Chiefs Extend Premier Pass Rusher Through 2028
The Kansas City Chiefs are ramping up for the start of the 2025 NFL season. After losing to the Eagles in the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes was beaten up by Philadelphia’s defensive line, which may have triggered a shift in Kansas City’s philosophy. They attempted to bulk up their team by drafting an offensive lineman and two defensive linemen with their first three picks of the draft. Now, they look to keep their current defensive line intact with a new contract. The Chiefs and defensive end George Karlaftis agreed to a four-year extension worth $93 million, including $62 million guaranteed. Not only do the Chiefs get a win by extending a key contributor to their defense, but Karlaftis got a win for the players by managing two-thirds of his contract fully guaranteed, something that the players and NFLPA have been pushing for a while now.
The Chiefs drafted Karlaftis 30th overall in 2022, the second of two first-round picks that year, where they selected cornerback Trent McDuffie nine picks earlier. Picking two defensive players that year may have come as a surprise to the high-powered offense of the Chiefs, which was known for scoring first and worrying about defense later. The last time the team had picked a defender with their first-round pick. Before that was back in 2015 when they selected Marcus Peters at pick 18. Since 2022, the Chiefs have selected only one skill position player in the first round, Xavier Worthy, and three defenders, as well as one offensive lineman, signaling a change of the guard in KC.
Since 2022, Karlaftis is second only to Chris Jones for the team lead in sacks and tackles for loss with 24.5 and 24, respectively. Averaging 8.5 sacks per season is no small task, which is why it’s been surprising to see the six-foot-four, 263-pound edge rusher fly under the NFL’s radar. Karlaftis led the playoffs in sacks during the last two seasons and led in postseason TFLs this past year. Despite these statistical achievements, the only accolade he has on his resume is being named to PFWA’s All-Rookie Team in 2022. Hopefully, after this extension, media outlets will start to take notice and catapult him to some Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams in the future.
