Chiefs land Karlaftis late in 1st round
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 30 overall.
The Chiefs traded up for cornerback Trent McDuffie at No. 21 before addressing their edge presence at No. 30.
Karlaftis only had 4.5 sacks for the Boilermakers last year and never had more than 7.5 sacks in a season. However, he made his name as one of the most powerful prospects in his class.
Karlaftis should have a chance to get on the field immediately in Kansas City. The Chiefs don't have an established edge rusher on their roster other than Frank Clark, who's coming off a down year, and struggled to generate pressure off the edge at times in 2021.
Scouting profile: George Karlaftis
| School | Height | Weight | 40 time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 6'4 | 266 | DNP |
If Karlaftis were a superhero, he'd be the Incredible Hulk. The Purdue product is built like a fridge and can simply overpower his way to the quarterback. His bull rush is the bread and butter of his game as he terrorizes opposing linemen with his strong base. However, don't count out his ability to throw a good punch to win with a swim move, either. He struggles with lateral movement and a lack of length, but those are minor inconveniences. Karlaftis' strength and power give him enough to smash through the competition.