2022 NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs select George Karlaftis No.30 overall

The Kansas City Chiefs need some help in their pass rush, and they hope they have that in the form of Purdue’s George Karlaftis. 

When the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, they did so not just with their offense but with the help of a relentless pass rush. Super Bowl LV was just a bad night, and last year’s AFC Championship was a complete collapse.

So, as expected, the Chiefs needed to address their defense. They got Trent McDuffie to help out with that, and then the 30th pick, which was initially San Francisco’s, before going to Miami and then Kansas City—complicated but valid.

As a result, the Chiefs headed to West Lafayette and took George Karlaftis out of Purdue. Not a flashy pick, but in terms of need and quality, it’s worth taking a flier on at the bottom of the first round.

George Karlaftis helps provide a boost to the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line.

Last season, Karlaftis recorded 36 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. His best season came in 2019 when he had 7.5 sacks.

Still, his size and strength helped him stand out amongst his draft peers. Playing in the Big Ten and helping the Boilermakers pull off big upsets certainly helps.

In a year where defensive linemen are taken at a high rate, someone had to slip, and in this case, it was Karlaftis, but it may turn out to be a blessing for the Chiefs. The AFC is getting stronger with good quarterbacks, and the AFC West division isn’t exactly a cakewalk.

All it takes is being put in the right situation and making the most out of an opportunity. George Karlaftis has that going for him with the Kansas City Chiefs. It is now up to Steve Spagnuolo to develop, maximize his potential, and get the most out of him.