2024 Defense Stats
TCKL
35
SACKS
8.0
INT
0
FF
0
TD
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Kansas City's decision to exercise the fifth-year option in Karlaftis' rookie deal keeps him under contract through 2026. The 2022 first-round pick took a step backwards in 2024, with 35 total tackles including 8.0 sacks across 16 regular-season games, after tallying 47 tackles including 10.5 sacks in the same amount of contests in 2023. He'll look to rebound in Year 4, as he remains locked into a starting role in the Chiefs' pass-rush unit. Read Past Outlooks
Lands big extension from KC
Karlaftis agreed to a four-year, $93 million contract with the Chiefs on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Kansas City also picked up Karlaftis' fifth-year option in April, which means he'll now be tied to the team through the 2030 campaign. This new extension also includes $62 million guaranteed, as he's been a key piece of a defense that's won two of the last three Super Bowls. The 2022 first-round pick has tallied 115 tackles, including 24.5 sacks, while appearing in 49 regular-season games over the past three seasons. Karlaftis and defensive tackle Chris Jones should continue to form one of the NFL's best pass-rushing duos in 2025.
Kansas City also picked up Karlaftis' fifth-year option in April, which means he'll now be tied to the team through the 2030 campaign. This new extension also includes $62 million guaranteed, as he's been a key piece of a defense that's won two of the last three Super Bowls. The 2022 first-round pick has tallied 115 tackles, including 24.5 sacks, while appearing in 49 regular-season games over the past three seasons. Karlaftis and defensive tackle Chris Jones should continue to form one of the NFL's best pass-rushing duos in 2025.
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
2024 NFL Game Log
2024
2023
2022
2024 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2024 George Karlaftis Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Karlaftis took the next step toward stardom in 2023, reaching the double-digit sacks threshold (10.5) in his second professional campaign despite playing only minimally more snaps (719 to 703 as a rookie in 2022). Karlaftis added an impressive four-sack output to lead the team in the playoffs, potentially foreshadowing a big defensive season ahead for him and a unit that retains most of its personnel from a season ago.
More Fantasy News
Fifth-year option exercised
Karlaftis had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, worth $15.1 million, picked up by Kansas City on Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Gets after QB again in 2024
Karlaftis recorded 35 tackles (21 solo), including 8.0 sacks, and five passes defensed in 16 games during the regular season.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Not playing against Denver
Karlaftis (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Doubtful for Sunday
Karlaftis (coach's decision) is listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Broncos.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Upgrades to full Thursday
Karlaftis (abdomen) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely extension candidate
Karlaftis could get a contract extension from Kansas City after the draft, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
"Once this [draft] process ends, we'll be in discussions with [right guard] Trey [Smith] trying to get him done and then I'm sure at some point here [with] George and [cornerback] Trent [McDuffie]," general manager Brett Veach said Thursday. "We're going to have dialogue with them." Karlaftis has recorded 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons in 32 regular-season games, and he came up big during Kansas City's 2024 playoff run, racking up 4.0 sacks in three postseason contests, including 3.0 in a divisional-round win over the Texans.
"Once this [draft] process ends, we'll be in discussions with [right guard] Trey [Smith] trying to get him done and then I'm sure at some point here [with] George and [cornerback] Trent [McDuffie]," general manager Brett Veach said Thursday. "We're going to have dialogue with them." Karlaftis has recorded 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons in 32 regular-season games, and he came up big during Kansas City's 2024 playoff run, racking up 4.0 sacks in three postseason contests, including 3.0 in a divisional-round win over the Texans.