The Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end George Karlaftis have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $93 million, which includes $62 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
At 24 years old, Karlaftis is entering his prime and has two years remaining on his rookie contract. This new deal shows his commitment to the Chiefs and will keep him with the team through the 2030 season.
“He’s an excellent player who has done a fantastic job here, and he’s being rewarded for it,” said coach Andy Reid. “Our team benefits from having him around. It’s a win-win situation. He plays with great intensity, is dependable, and you can count on him to give his all.”
After completing their main goal of signing Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith to a record-breaking four-year contract extension worth $94 million just before the Tuesday deadline for franchised-tagged players, general manager Brett Veach and Reid quickly focused on securing Karlaftis.
Reid commented on the importance of signing both Karlaftis and Smith: “From a coach’s perspective, this is fantastic. The challenging part falls on Veach as he manages the financial side of things, but we really value having our talented young players stay together. Veach has done an excellent job with his draft choices.”
During his three years with the Chiefs, Karlaftis has achieved 24.5 sacks. His steady performance often comes from his determination and constant chase after the opposing quarterback.
He has also been successful in one-on-one battles while playing alongside All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is the best defender on the team. When Jones puts pressure on the quarterback—sometimes getting past two linemen in under 2.5 seconds—Karlaftis is usually the one who ends up making the sack.
Last season, Karlaftis topped the Chiefs’ defense with eight sacks and a career-high of 28 quarterback hits. He also made five pass breakups and recorded 35 tackles. During the Chiefs’ three-game playoff run, Karlaftis stepped up his game, achieving four sacks and eight quarterback hits.
The Chiefs were excited to finalize this deal because under his new contract, Karlaftis will rank as the 10th-highest-paid defender among pass rushers, earning an average salary of $23.25 million per year, including bonuses.
With this extension, Karlaftis is set to play a larger role in longtime coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, alongside Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton.
Karlaftis is the first player from the Chiefs’ strong 2022 draft class—which features running back Isiah Pacheco, safety Bryan Cook, linebacker Leo Chenal, and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson—to sign a second contract with the team.
The Chiefs chose Karlaftis with their second first-round pick after trading Tyreek Hill, and he has been a starter since joining the league.
The 2022 draft class played a key role in helping the Chiefs solidify their dynasty. The team not only won consecutive Super Bowl titles but also made it to the championship game again last season, marking them as the first repeat champion to reach the Super Bowl for a third time in a row.
In his 10 playoff games, Karlaftis has consistently performed well, recording eight sacks, 16 hits on quarterbacks, two fumble recoveries, and one pass breakup.
Over the past few months, even before the deadline for players tagged with franchise tags, the Chiefs have been in talks with three of their young stars—Smith, Karlaftis, and McDuffie—to keep them as important members of the team, according to a source within the organization.
The Chiefs aim to finalize one last deal before the season kicks off by extending McDuffie’s contract; he is a two-time All-Pro. However, this agreement would likely need to be groundbreaking like Smith’s contract.
The New York Jets recently signed cornerback Sauce Gardner, who was picked fourth overall in the 2022 draft, to an impressive four-year extension worth $120.4 million.
As a two-time All-Pro, Gardner’s contract included $85.653 million guaranteed. If the Chiefs want to sign McDuffie to an extension, they will probably need to offer more than what Gardner received.
