Latest news with #Karlaftis
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs rookie preview: Ashton Gillotte 2025 stat projections
Chiefs rookie preview: Ashton Gillotte 2025 stat projections The Kansas City Chiefs selected Louisville Cardinals defensive end Ashton Gillotte with the 66th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Gillotte lacks ideal arm length and bend but fits the mold of a modern power rusher with a high floor in run defense. This type of player is becoming more coveted around the league. If given enough snaps, Gillotte could make a nice impact as a rookie. Excluding former first round pick George Karlaftis, rookie defensive ends don't have a great track record on Steve Spagnuolo's Chiefs defenses. Since Spagnuolo arrived in Kansas City in 2019, the five defensive ends drafted by the Chiefs have produced a total of nine sacks during their rookie campaigns. Six of those belong to Karlaftis. Even before Spagnuolo became the team's defensive coordinator, Kansas City struggled to draft reliable defensive ends. Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks were second round picks in 2017 and 2018, respectively. They combined for 3.5 sacks in their rookie seasons and 8.5 total sacks during their time with the Chiefs. Gillotte could snap the streak of struggling Chiefs defensive ends. He joins a room with limited depth featuring Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu. Danna and Omenihu pose the biggest threats to Gillotte's snap count, but both veterans are battling back from injury-shortened campaigns that saw them post some of the worst numbers of their careers. Gillotte could absorb most of the snaps given to Anudike-Uzomah and Herring in 2024, which would put him around 500 regular season snaps. However, that number seems unreasonably high considering both Danna and Omenihu missed significant time. It's more likely that Gillotte plays somewhere between 300 and 400 snaps. In 2024, Pro Football Focus charted Karlaftis playing 65.8% of his snaps on passing downs. If Gillotte hits the same mark, he would total between 197 and 263 pass rush attempts. Gillotte applied pressure on 15.7% of his pass rushes at Louisville in 2024, but that's a lofty mark for a rookie. If he comes closer to Karlaftis' 2024 mark of 11.2%, Gillotte would finish 2025 with between 22 and 29 pressures. Sack totals are far more difficult to predict than pressures because they're a less consistent measurement. Three to five sacks seem like a reasonable projection for Gillotte. He should create more splash plays in run defense and might even approach ten total tackles for loss when combining his sacks with his work in run defense. Similar to fourth round pick Jalen Royals, Gillotte is a piece of Kansas City's plan to future-proof its roster. The Chiefs would save roughly nine million by cutting Danna next offseason, and Omenihu is on a cheap, one-year deal. Gillotte is the future of Kansas City's defensive line, but don't expect a flashy rookie season.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Underrated DL standout prefers to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs long-term
Underrated DL standout prefers to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs long-term The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line has been crucial to the unit's success over the last few seasons. The pass rushers, led by Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, have lifted the group in big moments, and Karlaftis hopes to keep that chemistry going well beyond the 2025 season. "Yeah, I'll let whoever handles that handle that, but I'd like to be here as long as I can," Karlaftis said about contract negotiations during last week's press conference. "My now fiancée and I absolutely love Kansas City and love this organization, so I'll let whoever is to handle that handle that, but I love it here." Last season, Karlaftis led Kansas City with eight sacks and tallied 61 total pressures. He shared his thoughts on a recent ESPN article labeling him underrated in the league. "I don't need to prove anything to anybody other than the people in this building; that's how I feel." Said Karlaftis. "Coach Cullen (Joe Cullen), Coach Spags (Steve Spagnuolo), Coach Reid (Andy Reid), my teammates, I got their back just like they got mine, and I try to put my best foot forward every day to get better and do what I can on the field. And whatever recognitions to come, it'll come. Not really worried about that at all." In April, the Chiefs picked up Karlaftis's and All-Pro teammate Trent McDuffie's fifth-year options.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs to exercise fifth-year options on George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffie
The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to officially pick up defensive back Trent McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis' fifth-year options. Former first-round draft picks McDuffie and Karlaftis were among the many NFL players eligible for an option year following the conclusion of their rookie deals. According to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs are picking up those options for two of their brightest young stars from the 2022 NFL Draft. McDuffie, since being selected No. 21 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, has emerged as one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. He's tallied 27 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 4.5 sacks in his career. The former Washington Huskies standout was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and a second-team selection in 2024. Karlaftis went as the No. 30 overall pick in the same draft, collecting 24.5 sacks and 56 quarterback hits in 49 career games. He has stepped his game up to another level in postseason play with eight sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 10 games on the way to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Since leaving Purdue, he has continued to improve the Chiefs' pass-rushing attack on the defensive line alongside All-Pro Chris Jones. The Chiefs' front office has taken a significant step in working to retain their young talent long-term, with time to negotiate longer-term deals throughout the year.
Hamilton Spectator
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Chiefs solidify their offensive and defensive lines while plugging other holes during NFL draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs general manager Brett Veach saw the same thing that everyone else saw during the Super Bowl: His team was beaten up front on both sides of the ball by the Philadelphia Eagles in a lopsided and humbling defeat. He certainly took some swings at rectifying the situation in the NFL draft . The Chiefs used the final pick in the first round on Thursday night to select Ohio State's Josh Simmons , believed by many to be the most talented offensive tackle in the draft. The biggest reason Simmons fell to No. 32 overall is that he's coming off a torn patellar tendon, but the Chiefs are confident after their medical checks that he will play this season. Then, in the second round Friday night, they used the penultimate pick on Tennessee's Omarr Norman-Lott, who will slide into the middle of the defensive line alongside perennial Pro Bowl tackle Chris Jones. Throw in another draft pick on the defensive front in the third round — pass rusher Ashton Gillotte of Louisville — and the Chiefs were able to address their most pressing needs before they even reached the middle rounds of the draft. 'Well, certainly there was a lot of discussion about the offensive line following the Super Bowl, and Brett — as he often does — took advantage of free agency to go ahead and reinforce it,' Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, alluding to the signing of offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery earlier in the offseason. 'That's one of the best things that he does,' Hunt said, 'is he puts us in a position going into the draft where we don't have to draft based on need, and particularly when you're drafting as late as we do every year. Taking the best player available gives you a chance of getting somebody who can stick with the organization and make an impact long-term.' That is exactly what the Chiefs see in their first- and second-round picks. While all the reports on Simmons' knee came back positive, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he was unsure exactly what Patrick Mahomes' new blind side protector would do this offseason. He may sit out the upcoming rookie minicamp, and perhaps the rest of voluntary workouts. But the Chiefs believe he will be on the field when training camp begins in July. 'Again, a lot of work ahead on the football side and on the rehab side,' Veach said, 'but we've got a great coaching staff, great locker room, great training staff. so we feel good about what we can get out of him.' Familiar faces The Chiefs were searching for a pass rusher to complement George Karlaftis, and they wound up with one in Gillotte, who is already familiar with his new teammate. Karlaftis played for defensive line coach Mark Hagen at Purdue, and Hagen left there for Louisville, where he tutored Gillotte last season. The two players have even worked out together. '(Karlaftis) was watching practice, being like, 'Oh that's bad, you've got to fix that,'' Gillotte said. 'He's very critical, but in a lot of ways, he helped refine how I pass rush and get to this level to be considered.' Trading up The Chiefs believed so strongly in California cornerback Nohl Williams that they sent their 95th pick and a fourth-rounder next year to New England to move up 10 spots and pick him 85th overall. The Chiefs needed help at the position, and Williams certainly was productive in college, picking off 14 passes during five seasons. Day 3 steal Some draftniks thought Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals could go as high as the second round. So when he was still there in the fourth round, the Chiefs grabbed him to help fill out a young but exciting wide receiver room. The Chiefs should get Rashee Rice back from injury this season, and Xavier Worthy is coming off a breakout rookie season. Depth at linebacker The Chiefs picked up a fifth-round pick in a first-day trade with Philadelphia, and they used it on Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who should provide depth while also having the versatility to play all four phases of special teams. What else is left Few teams better filled their biggest holes than the Chiefs did during the draft. They have just one running back signed beyond the upcoming season, so they added SMU's Brashard Smith in the seventh round. But they did not manage to land a high-profile tight end with Travis Kelce's future in football uncertain beyond the 2025 campaign. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs solidify their offensive and defensive lines while plugging other holes during NFL draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs general manager Brett Veach saw the same thing that everyone else saw during the Super Bowl: His team was beaten up front on both sides of the ball by the Philadelphia Eagles in a lopsided and humbling defeat. He certainly took some swings at rectifying the situation in the NFL draft. Advertisement The Chiefs used the final pick in the first round on Thursday night to select Ohio State's Josh Simmons, believed by many to be the most talented offensive tackle in the draft. The biggest reason Simmons fell to No. 32 overall is that he's coming off a torn patellar tendon, but the Chiefs are confident after their medical checks that he will play this season. Then, in the second round Friday night, they used the penultimate pick on Tennessee's Omarr Norman-Lott, who will slide into the middle of the defensive line alongside perennial Pro Bowl tackle Chris Jones. Throw in another draft pick on the defensive front in the third round — pass rusher Ashton Gillotte of Louisville — and the Chiefs were able to address their most pressing needs before they even reached the middle rounds of the draft. 'Well, certainly there was a lot of discussion about the offensive line following the Super Bowl, and Brett — as he often does — took advantage of free agency to go ahead and reinforce it,' Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, alluding to the signing of offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery earlier in the offseason. Advertisement 'That's one of the best things that he does,' Hunt said, 'is he puts us in a position going into the draft where we don't have to draft based on need, and particularly when you're drafting as late as we do every year. Taking the best player available gives you a chance of getting somebody who can stick with the organization and make an impact long-term.' That is exactly what the Chiefs see in their first- and second-round picks. While all the reports on Simmons' knee came back positive, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he was unsure exactly what Patrick Mahomes' new blind side protector would do this offseason. He may sit out the upcoming rookie minicamp, and perhaps the rest of voluntary workouts. But the Chiefs believe he will be on the field when training camp begins in July. 'Again, a lot of work ahead on the football side and on the rehab side,' Veach said, "but we've got a great coaching staff, great locker room, great training staff. so we feel good about what we can get out of him.' Advertisement Familiar faces The Chiefs were searching for a pass rusher to complement George Karlaftis, and they wound up with one in Gillotte, who is already familiar with his new teammate. Karlaftis played for defensive line coach Mark Hagen at Purdue, and Hagen left there for Louisville, where he tutored Gillotte last season. The two players have even worked out together. '(Karlaftis) was watching practice, being like, 'Oh that's bad, you've got to fix that,'' Gillotte said. 'He's very critical, but in a lot of ways, he helped refine how I pass rush and get to this level to be considered." Trading up Advertisement The Chiefs believed so strongly in California cornerback Nohl Williams that they sent their 95th pick and a fourth-rounder next year to New England to move up 10 spots and pick him 85th overall. The Chiefs needed help at the position, and Williams certainly was productive in college, picking off 14 passes during five seasons. Day 3 steal Some draftniks thought Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals could go as high as the second round. So when he was still there in the fourth round, the Chiefs grabbed him to help fill out a young but exciting wide receiver room. The Chiefs should get Rashee Rice back from injury this season, and Xavier Worthy is coming off a breakout rookie season. Depth at linebacker Advertisement The Chiefs picked up a fifth-round pick in a first-day trade with Philadelphia, and they used it on Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who should provide depth while also having the versatility to play all four phases of special teams. What else is left Few teams better filled their biggest holes than the Chiefs did during the draft. They have just one running back signed beyond the upcoming season, so they added SMU's Brashard Smith in the seventh round. But they did not manage to land a high-profile tight end with Travis Kelce's future in football uncertain beyond the 2025 campaign. ___ AP NFL:
