As the Kansas City Chiefs report to training camp, head coach Andy Reid addressed a multitude of things in St. Joseph, MO.
One of the most popular subjects of July 20 was a contract extension for defensive end George Karlaftis. The Purdue product will be a Chief for the long haul, which is a massive plus for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Speaking to the media, Reid weighed in with his thoughts on the deal.
Andy Reid Excited for Chiefs to Keep George Karlaftis for Years
Reid confirmed the extension, also tipping his cap to Karlaftis for earning a long-term raise.
“That would be a great deal,” Reid said. “I think that’s already done, just so if you need some breaking news (laughter). That’s a great thing. And he’s a heck of a player, and he’s done a great job here, and he’s profited from that. Our team also profits from him being around, so it’s a win-win there.”
It’s a true four-year extension for Karlaftis. The former first-round pick will still be cheap against the salary cap this year, and his 2026 cap hit remains mostly unchanged. That means he’ll play out the next two years fairly close to what were already his fourth season and a fifth-year option on his rookie deal. The “true” element of the extension kicks in after that, locking him in through 2030. Karlaftis will make $88 million over the course of the extension with a max value of $93M.
The Chiefs hope the early work is worth it. Right now, Karlaftis is one of the highest-paid edge rushers in terms of average annual value and guarantees. By the time the contract actually kicks in, though, that very well could change. Considering Karlaftis is still just 24 years old, he also has room to grow.
Kansas City Continues Never-Ending Tightrope Walk With Finances
This isn’t the only deal the Chiefs completed before camp. On July 15, the franchise locked up right guard Trey Smith on a hefty four-year extension of his own. Smith, a first-time Pro Bowler this past year, is a perfect example of a late-round pick paying his dues and getting rewarded for it. Just days before everyone reported to the campus at Missouri Western State University, second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was inked to his rookie contract.
Kansas City’s ability to maneuver around the cap is what keeps their dynasty rolling. Reid applauds general manager Brett Veach and his staff for doing so.
“I mean it’s great to have, great from a coach’s standpoint to have that,” Reid said. “The tough job is with each, having to juggle the financial part of it. But we love having that. Continuity is a big thing, with your good, young players, and Veach has done a real nice job with his group in the drafts. So, to sort all of that out, (assistant GM) Chris Shea and the guys, they have to work through all of that, the money part of it, and they do a heck of a job with it. So, it’s an ongoing thing, as you go, you got to really have a good feel and a good plan for the future as you do it.”
According to the NFLPA’s public salary cap report, the Chiefs’ top 51 players leave them with $11.3M in available space. It’s unclear exactly which new contracts factored into that calculus, as outlets like Spotrac and Over The Cap have them at just over $20M in room. Once everything shakes out to a final 53-man roster, Veach and company will still have room to operate. That applies to this season and next offseason. Rolling that space over is allowed.
On and off the field, Kansas City keeps on winning.
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