The Kansas City Chiefs defense appears to be in good hands with George Karlaftis.

When most people think of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ defense, Chris Jones immediately comes to mind, and rightly so.

However, another young pass rusher is quickly making a name for himself and, over the past three seasons, has developed into quite the weapon for Steve Spagnuolo.

And that is pass rusher George Karlaftis.

Totaling 24.5 sacks in 44 games, along with a career-high 28 quarterback hits last season, George is quickly rising up the ranks, but it is his playoff numbers that show his value.

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A total of 8.0 sacks in nine games, eight tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits show he’s a big-game player. 

And because of that, Bleacher Report has named Karlaftis as a promising building block for the Chiefs moving forward.

“When the Kansas City Chiefs defense takes the field, three-time All-Pro Chris Jones garners most of the attention at the line of scrimmage,” Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton writes. “However, George Karlaftis has earned respect with 93 pressures and 24.5 sacks in three seasons.

“Karlaftis isn’t generating the same amount of buzz as fellow 2022 first-rounders Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson in terms of extension talks. That said, he’s taken some attention away from Jones as an effective three-down defender who can get to the quarterback and stop runs behind the line of scrimmage.”

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis sacks Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

With his fifth-year option coming at the end of 2025, the Chiefs will have a decision to make, and if the defensive end continues producing as he has done, a sizable contract will be coming his way.

Spotrac.com already has his value at $22.2 million APY with an expected contract of three years at $66 million, so that will only go up if his numbers continue to climb.

Jones won’t be around forever, and at just 23 years old, maybe it is Karlaftis who takes the torch and becomes the leader of that defensive line.

And in doing so, will be a good “building block” for the franchise moving forward.