EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – NFL coaches relentlessly watch practice tape to evaluate players, plays and schemes. But sometimes they are also entertained by what they see on the screen.

That's exactly what happens when the Giants' coaches review the daily tussles between left tackle Andrew Thomas and edge rusher Brian Burns.

"Man, that's a fun matchup to watch," coach Brian Daboll said today. "Those guys go at it. They make each other better. They're both really good football players, so I think it helps us as a team."

It certainly helps each player, who are among the best in the NFL at their positions.

Burns, the 16^th overall selection of the 2019 NFL Draft, was acquired for two draft choices in a trade with Carolina on March 13. A two-time Pro Bowler, he had 46.0 sacks in five seasons with the Panthers, including a career-high 12.5 in 2022.

The Giants secured Thomas with the fourth choice in the 2020 draft. He was a second-team all-pro two years ago before his 2023 season was gutted by a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven games.

Now the two elite players challenge each other every day, and the competition will ramp up tomorrow when the Giants practice in full pads for the first time.

"It's definitely great when you have a player like that to go against because they push you to stay on your P's and Q's, and I think we're making each other better," Thomas said after their morning skirmish today. "I'm just working my craft every day. He's pushed me to be better and I think I'm helping him to be a better player as well."

Burns enjoys the challenges Thomas presents.

"It's been a constant battle between me and him," Burns said. "I embrace the opportunity. Ever since he got back, because you know he wasn't practicing in the beginning of OTAs, but ever since he got back, I've been on his side. We're definitely going to get each other better. Today, he kind of got me a little pissed off. He edged me out today. So, tomorrow we got a battle. We got to get that back, for sure."

Yesterday, Burns got the best of Thomas on one play, using an inside move to give him a clear path to Daniel Jones on what became an incomplete pass to Wan'Dale Robinson.

"You never want to lose as an offensive lineman," Thomas said. "But I think the time in practice is the time when you want it to happen. You don't want it to happen on Sunday."

Burns was acquired to join forces with third-year pro Kayvon Thibodeaux (11.5 sacks last year) to give the Giants a pair of lethal outside rushers and for the two of them to work with tackle Dexter Lawrence in a three-headed alignment that could ruin many opponents' offensive plans.

"It's still been going good," Burns said of his relationship with Thibodeaux. "We had a competition yesterday in that last call-it period. Whoever got the first sack had to do 25 pushups or something like that and he got it. I'll give it to him for now. But yeah, we're still having that friendly competition. It's going to help us get better."

Burns enjoys playing in new coordinator Shane Bowen's defense.

"I haven't been dropping (into pass coverage) a lot, so (laughs) that looks good to me," he said. "As long as we keep those numbers to a minimum, I'm fine. I'd rather be going forward. … With that being said, today we had too many quarterback scrambles. I don't think we kept a tight enough pocket today. It's still early. We're still learning how to rush with each other, so it's going to take time. But, day by day, we're going to get better."

Daboll said Burns has exerted himself in the meeting room as well as the practice field.

"Burns has really been a valuable asset in there," Daboll said. "He gives a lot of input. He's a good communicator. I think Kayvon bounces things off of him, but he'll bounce things off of Kayvon. (Outside linebackers coach) Charlie Bullen, we brought him in. He's done a great job with those guys as well."

Thomas has faced many of the NFL's best pass rushers and said Burns can be as good as any of them.

"I would say, one, because of his natural ability, how athletic he is," Thomas said. "He can change levels really well. I think another thing would be a lot of times when you have guys that talented, they don't really practice as hard or play as hard. I feel like he does a good job of running to the ball; he plays all the way through the whistle. And I think that's what makes him a great player."

Thomas said he and Burns do not trash talk to each other in practice. Their conversations are limited to the occasional, "nice move."

"Most of it is just us trying to push ourselves to be the best," Thomas said. "We don't need extra motivation to practice hard. There are no days off. I have to work on my technique constantly to make sure I'm approaching him the right way to make sure I'm putting myself in a good position and I think that will make me better on Sundays."

*Center John Michael Schmitz was limited to individual drills with what Daboll said was a minor shoulder issue. Austin Schlottmann and Jimmy Morrissey alternated playing center with the starters.

*Rookie safety Tyler Nubin continues to sit out with a calf injury.