One of the biggest challenges of sustaining a dynasty is deciding who to retain on the personnel front. The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to that, as general manager Brett Veach has made some tough calls over the years.
He didn’t hesitate to sign pass rusher George Karlaftis to a contract extension, though. As the 2025-26 season rolls on, that pact is looking solid.
The organization believes it, just as much as the numbers show it.
Andy Reid Drops Massive George Karlaftis Praise: ‘Keeps Getting Better’
Speaking to the media following the Chiefs‘ Week 4 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Andy Reid tipped his cap to Karlaftis for a job well done. He believes the fourth-year man continues to find new ways to step up his game.
“Yeah George gives us a ton of snaps,” Reid said. “He plays almost the whole game every week and very seldom comes out. Again, he brings that aggressive heartbeat. Even though he might not get home, he’s always around, and he just keeps getting better. He’s got a little bit of the die-hard battery deal in him, so he keeps on going.”
Reid’s comments on Karlaftis’ workload are legitimate. His percentage of regular-season snaps played has increased in each of his seasons thus far. Last year’s mark sat at a healthy 83%, only to be spiked to 88% this year. Given injuries to players like Mike Danna and a lack of effectiveness from Charles Omenihu, that involvement is much-needed.
In four games, Karlaftis has 18 tackles (6 for loss), 10 quarterback hits and 3 sacks. He’s on pace to set career-best figures across the board. Advanced metrics like his effort, too. Pro Football Focus‘ 75.0 overall grade and 75.5 pass rush grade for Karlaftis are both personal bests. He’s up to 23 logged pressures in 137 pass rush snaps; that 16.8% split is another peak.
The only potential gripe with Karlaftis’ profile is how those wins arrive. He is a slow-burning pass rusher who relies on a high motor, quality containment and thorough coverage to put him in good spots to succeed. He doesn’t log quick wins like truly elite pass rushers do.
Assessing State of Chiefs’ Pass Rush Through 4 Games
As alluded to, there simply isn’t a ton at the defensive end spot in Kansas City right now. At the top of the depth chart, Danna came into the year as Karlaftis’ fellow starter but has been held back by a quad injury. It’s also limited his availability. The No. 3 spot, which many thought would be Omenihu’s, is in flux.
In 98 pass-rushing opportunities, Omenihu has just six pressures. Prior to suffering his injury, Danna hadn’t logged a single one in 29 snaps. Rookie Ashton Gillotte, for as strong of a run defender he’s been, is producing in a similar vein to Karlaftis. He isn’t winning quickly and is instead finding success with effort. He has 2 pressures in 57 chances.
The interior, once again, is headlined by All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones. He has just one sack, but he’s winning at a decent rate (15 pressures) and is improving at run defense despite poor grades. The next-closest valuable veteran contributor from the former standpoint is Jerry Tillery, who has 4 pressures in 34 snaps.
Rookie Omarr Norman-Lott is the player to watch, especially given his athletic profile. The second-round pick is still finding his way. He has 54 defensive snaps in his three games played this year.
Entering Week 5, the Chiefs‘ defense ranks fourth in blitz rate at 31.6%. They’re fifth in pressure rate at 26.1% and lead the league in knockdowns. Advanced analytics like ESPN’s team pass rush win rate are likely more reflective of their performance, as they rank 21st in that regard.
Improvement is critical, but players like Karlaftis are helping keep things afloat in the interim.
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