Should We Expect A Year-Two Breakout From George Karlaftis?

The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves some top-tier pillars in the draft, both in 2021 and 2022. This was crucial for Kansas City as they entered the second wave of Patrick Mahomes‘ career. Fortunately for the Chiefs, they have been rewarded adequately with initial results from several young draft picks. One of those names last season was rookie defensive end George Karlaftis.

One of two first-round picks made by the Chiefs in 2022, the Purdue product had a somewhat slow start to his first campaign. Yet, you could see all of his top traits leading to a well-rounded finish last season. That play style and mentality just simply thrives so well within this Kansas City defensive scheme. More on that in a minute.

All told, George Karlaftis put together a fairly strong rookie season last year. It is arguably flying under the radar a bit, when you look back at rookie defensive linemen from 2022. Despite that being the case, people should not be surprised if we see an even greater breakout from Karlaftis in year two. Why is that the case? Let’s kick it off.

Karlaftis Offers Relentless Play Style In Kansas City Defensive Scheme

The Kansas City defensive scheme is a perfect marriage for George Karlaftis and his play style. You could call Steve Spagnuolo‘s unit aggressive. Though, that is not necessarily the case 100 percent of the time. The Chiefs can also become very opportunistic, to boot, forcing offenses into sudden holes in a heartbeat.

Karlaftis came out of college offering tantalizing relentlessness and a motor to cutdown plays from all over the field. Early on last season, he was unable to finish on those chances to run down plays on pursuit. But by the time the last handful of games rolled around, Karlaftis was incredibly efficient with his angles and timing to reach the football.

The Chiefs have not necessarily relied on pass rushers who offer elite bend and dip ability when coming off of the corner. That is not to say that Kansas City has not had sufficient athletes as pass rushers. However, this group is built more to work through blocks and reduce or condense rush angles. Obviously, that fits the game of George Karlaftis to a tee. Beyond his relentless nature, the coaching staff has to be impressed with his explosiveness, both in his upper body and lower body. The power that he can generate at the point of attack is jolting.

2023 Could Provide Greater Opportunity For This Defensive End

The Kansas City Chiefs lost two veteran defensive ends this offseason in Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap. Now for those who may be unaware, both Clark and Dunlap are still unsigned on the open market. Kansas City may still have a chance to bring back either player for cheap late this offseason, if they so choose.

But without those two in the picture, Karlaftis enters 2023 with a greater opportunity. At only 22 years old, he trails only Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna in age (both are 25 years old) among defensive ends that should see significant snaps this season. Granted, Omenihu can also reduce inside on third downs. On the flip side, it will be fascinating to see how the Chiefs utilize rookie Felix Anudike-Uzomah behind or alongside George Karlaftis this year.

The good news for Kansas City and Karlaftis is, this defensive end saw a continued growth and upward trajectory late last season. His ability to finish plays more often was immense. On top of that, Karlaftis was able to affect opposing offenses in a variety of ways. His ability to play the run solidly and bat down passes was a major boost to the Chiefs defense.

How Much Could His Production Truly Increase?

Once again, it appears that the rookie production from George Karlaftis flew under the radar a bit. If you just look at raw numbers, much of his damage was done in December. He finished with 11 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, six sacks and two fumble recoveries. But overall, his pressure and hurry numbers truly stood out throughout most of the season.

So, how much could his production truly increase in year two of his career? George Karlaftis may never blow anyone away with consistent sack production. But at the same time, his aforementioned play style and ability to crash hard into the backfield could lead to quick stops behind the line of scrimmage. There is a chance that Karlaftis could already reach double-digit sacks in 2023.

When factoring in a role that likely increases this year, George Karlaftis is going to have chances to pin his ears back and roll. The Chiefs will face a multitude of obvious passing situations as a defense. Meanwhile, Kansas City could also put different blitz calls and pass rush plans onto the plate of Karlaftis this season. Do not be surprised if his production immediately rises, even though it is just the second career season for Karlaftis.