Kansas City Chiefs take care of 2022 NFL Draft pick with early contract extension that will save them money in the long run

Karlaftis signed a four-year, $93 million contract extension that includes $62 million in guaranteed money. The deal will keep him in Kansas City through the 2030 NFL season, meaning the extension won't officially take effect until after he plays out the remainder of his rookie contract. 

A native of Athens, Greece, Karlaftis moved to the United States at the age of 13. He fell in love with football at West Lafayette High School in Indiana, earning All-American honors as a high school senior before attending Purdue University. He'd join the Chiefs as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

In three seasons with Kansas City, Karlaftis recorded 115 total tackles, 24.5 sacks, 93 quarterback pressures, and one forced fumble in the regular season. He's reached the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league, earning two rings with the Chiefs with victories in Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. 

Why did an extension for Chiefs DE George Karlaftis make sense? 

The Chiefs have had a very tough time finding good defensive end play for two reasons. It's a premium position, and good players rarely make their way to free agency. If they do, they're not typically affordable for a team like Kansas City that is already paying S-tier money to a player like Chris Jones. The second part of the equation is that the team hasn't been able to draft and develop talent at this position consistently. They're always picking late in the first round of the draft, and historically, there is a significant drop-off in success at this position after the first 20 picks. 

The reality is that Karlaftis has developed the perfect fit for a Steve Spagnuolo defense since entering the system in 2022. He sets the edge and makes an impact in the run game. He plays off of Chris Jones well, producing a high rate of pressures and clean-up sacks. He's also quite humble in his approach to his craft.

"I don't need to prove anything to anybody other than the people in this building," Karlaftis said in May of 2025. "That's how I feel. Coach (Joe) Cullen, Coach Spags (Steve Spagnuolo), Coach (Andy) Reid, my teammates, you know, 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. (I'm) not really worried about that at all. I love this team. I have a lot of fun playing here, and it's a blessing of a lifetime, truly, to be a part of this."

He's the type of homegrown talent that you reward for his efforts. They'll build around this player because it's more than just an investment in the player, but a continued investment in the championship culture that he's a part of.