Chiefs' Linebacker Labeled Most Promising Building Block in Kansas City
The Kansas City Chiefs' pass rush fell to near the bottom of the league in 2021 and needed help. General manager Brett Veach selected Purdue linebacker George Karlaftis at No. 30 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft to help Chris Jones and Frank Clark.
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Karlaftis played so well that he made Clark expendable.
Now, three years into his pro career, Bleacher Report thinks Karlaftis is the Chiefs' most promising building block ahead of the 2025 season.
"When the Kansas City Chiefs defense takes the field, three-time All-Pro Chris Jones garners most of the attention at the line of scrimmage," B/R wrote. "However, George Karlaftis has earned respect with 93 pressures and 24.5 sacks in three seasons. After a 10.5-sack campaign in 2023, Karlaftis saw a slight drop-off in sack total with eight in the previous year, but he maintained an active presence in the pass rush, logging a career-high 37 pressures.
"Karlaftis isn't generating the same amount of buzz as fellow 2022 first-rounders Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson in terms of extension talks. That said, he's taken some attention away from Jones as an effective three-down defender who can get to the quarterback and stop runs behind the line of scrimmage."
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Karlaftis has posted 115 total tackles with 68 solo and 24 for loss and added 56 QB hits.
He's added 15 passes defended, 24.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble across 49 games with 44 starts.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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