When it comes to any discussion of the Kansas City Chiefs' pass rush, it typically boils down to a "Chris Jones and company" reference. The Chiefs' All-Pro defensive tackle certainly anchors the unit, but the rest of the line typically gets lumped in together.
That might not be the case for long.
As George Karlaftis comes into a contract season, it appears the league is taking notice of his talents on a grander scale. In fact, Karlaftis warranted mention in a rundown of the best edge rushers in the league—a sign that the Purdue product might be entering "household name" territory in the near future.
ESPN recently polled a number of executives, coaches, and scouts from around the National Football League to come up with their sixth annual anonymous player rankings heading into the 2025 regular season. As [edge rushers were revealed](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45530833/top-10-nfl-edge-rushers-execs-scouts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings), it was heartening to see Karlaftis' name among those listed.
George Karlaftis is generating real buzz heading into his fourth NFL season.
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While Karlaftis hasn't broken through to the top 10, he did warrant an "honorable mention" along with three others. After him, there were seven other players who "received votes." That's 21 players mentioned overall in the conversation for best edge rusher in the NFL, and Karlaftis stood firmly in the top 15.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, an unnamed NFC exec had this to say about Karlaftis: "Quick off the ball, has very good hand usage and mixes moves very well. He's always destructive in the run game."
Karlaftis already has 24.5 sacks and 93 pressures through his first three seasons in the NFL. Given that he was barely old enough to drink legally when he was drafted three years ago, his ceiling remains an exciting variable for the Chiefs' defense.
[Karlaftis has proven](https://arrowheadaddict.com/george-karlaftis-growth-is-a-major-part-of-chiefs-defensive-success-01jb9qrpcrdr) to be a reliable complementary threat up front for a strong Super Bowl-winning defense, but if he can take his game to the next level in the next couple of years as he enters his prime, the Chiefs might have another pass-rushing superstar on their hands.
The 2022 NFL Draft class was already looking like an all-time rookie haul for the Chiefs, anchored by the first-round choices of corner Trent McDuffie and Karlaftis. Both players are in line for extensions in the near future and should anchor K.C.'s defense for years to come.