With the 30th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs draft George Karlaftis, edge rusher, out of Purdue. In Karlaftis, the Chiefs are getting a brute of an edge rusher whose size and strength enable him to play on the interior of the defensive line as well. Let’s take a closer look at Karlaftis.
George Karlaftis Highlights
Chiefs Draft George Karlaftis | 2022 NFL Draft Profile
George Karlaftis
Position: EDGE
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 266 lbs
Age: 21
College: Purdue Boilermakers
George Karlaftis Draft Profile
Strengths
George Karlaftis is an absolute load on the defensive front. He possesses great power in his bull rush, which will translate to the NFL game. This strength also makes him versatile, since he could slide inside and hold his own. To go along with this power, Karlaftis also brings a quick first step, strong hands and relentless energy.
Weaknesses
Karlaftis doesn’t have the length of most elite edge rushers, so he can struggle against long offensive linemen. This makes it tough to get opponents’ hands off of him as a bull-rusher. This can also lead to Karlaftis playing outside of his skills, trying to be a speed-rusher when he is not that type of player. Last season also showed that he needs to convert more of his pressures into sacks.
RELATED | Full George Karlaftis NFL Draft Profile and Highlights
George Karlaftis Stats 2021 | Purdue
| G | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | FF |
| 12 | 39 | 10 | 4.5 | 2 |
What to Expect From George Karlaftis in 2022
While much of the buzz surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason has been focused on the offense, the team opted to bolster the other side of the ball in the First Round. George Karlaftis brings a whole new element to the Chiefs’ defensive front. A native of Greece, Karlaftis is a brute pass rusher who has the versatility to move inside and line up over center. His strength enables him to be a solid run stopper as well. Karlaftis addresses a glaring need for the Chiefs as they look to reemerge atop the AFC.
