This may be a solution, but my idea may throw the Assault Rifle off as a starting weapon.
That’s why there should be two Assault Rifles, AKA, the SMG to start you off. And then the AR we’re all used to is a weapon you can pick up.
The Assault Rifle needs a HUGE amount of bloom as well; so much bloom to the point when spraying it won’t even begin to work even in close range.
And at the same time, it needs to deal a HUGE amount of damage when burst-fired and aimed properly, in other words, it needs to have the capability to kill as consistently as the BR, per say, and needs to have a slightly longer range.
And why not have the SMG come back as a starting weapon? Besides, on certain maps, you could pick up powerups to your SMG. Like on some maps, the silencer (which, for the sake of gameplay, and like ODST, extends the range dramatically), and on others, there are a couple extra single SMGs lying around which you can dual-wield, EFFECTIVELY, DOUBLING the damage dealt.
And who’s to say there can’t be obtainable in-game powerups for all weapons which you can find in the maps?
It’s bound to be better than AAs, or perks, so to say, considering you’re picking them up in the maps, and losing them when you die.
And for the sake of balance, let’s say that these powerups run out and drop after extended use.