Is there a world in which we don't extend Karlaftis?
 

Looking ahead to '26....

FWIW - I think we probably do keep/extend him. But I think there's at least a discussion to be had. I also think we'll have more clarity after the draft as to Veach's thinking here as well.


The "Keep" reasons:
- He's still a young, homegrown dude at a premium position - tough to let those dude's walk.
- When he's on, he's on.
- Good teammate, fan favorite.
- FAU has not developed well enough to backfill or exceed GK's production.

The "Explore other options" reasons:
- He's great, but not elite - yet. And he might ask for "elite" money.
- McDuffie will need to get paid (hopefully this year, early).
- How much of his production is tied to Chris Jones success?
- What could we get in exchange for him via tag and trade next season?
- What would that cap space allow us to do?


(What prompted this - Obviously the Bengals are stupid for letting Trey Hendrickson out the door. But GK is not TH. Got me thinking.)

Crosby definitely just made it a lot more likely that we lose him, but I don't see how they can let it happen. Jones will start declining eventually, and you have no backup plan with FAU looking mostly meh.

Maybe you see if FAU steps up this year, but you're going to be in a really difficult spot if you lose George with no plan in place. He doesn't strike me as the type who will think he can set the market or anything, but the market is just so rich now that it might be tough.

In the end, they'll get it done.

I would think it would just come down to the money he's asking for. If its reasonable compared to his production, I think we definitely keep him.

yes

56 is a rising tide. He’s getting a little better every year, he stays healthy, he plays hard.

Pay that man his money and get better on the other side.

Still mad about taking FAU what a waste of a draft pick almost as bad as CEH

Why don’t people like Kalaftis? Because he’s not elite? Not eveyone can be that level.

To be fair, at least CEH had a couple of good games.

Who said anything about not liking him? I literally wrote he's a good teammate and fan favorite.

The question is should we extend him or not.

Incredible DL class. I think they are gonna draft multiple DL to protect themselves if Karlaftis wants an elite DL contract

Chiefs should have no problems paying him and McDuffie. After next season Travis and Taylor are off the books. You make life much more difficult if you do something stupid like trade for Metcalf or stop trying to land your OT of the future in the draft.

Don’t ever want to see another purple goober on our team

If there is one thing I know about Chiefsplanet....it is they will want to resign every single guy that the Chiefs have ever drafted no matter what .

I hope not.

So the one thing you know is that Chiefsplanet wants to re-sign Skyy Moore, correct? That's the ONE THING that you know.

He's not really even on the team

The cap is going up by $20 million per year lately. Football is more popular than ever, so the rate of increase will probably increase also. Definitely sign Karlaftis. As long as he continues to play well that deal will look really good by the end of the contract.

Obviously there are limitations, but to me Karlaftis is somebody you try to keep. If he's demanding elite money and can get it somewhere then obviously don't be stupid about it, but he's been great for us and seems like an all-around good human being you don't have to worry about.

Honestly see if Cleveland will flip him for Garrett and a low pick next year.

Karloftis is doing what he is next to an all time great.
He is not consistent enough on sacks to retained at a lot of money.

It does perplex me though that his best game last year was when jones was out.

This team should be looking like the eagles line with the pressure jones gets. The ends are constantly 1v1.

I like him. But not enough to extend him.

So flip him for a.couple years of Garrett if we can.

I feel like we had this discussion a couple of months ago. Yeah, I'd extend him. No question. There aren't even that many DEs of George's quality in the NFL. I think people need to do some actual research on what the rest of the league actually has.

Karlaftis will be an extremely difficult case depending on what he wants. He’s a really good DE, but he’s not a force multiplier or a guy that is truly elite. He could get even better and make a great case.

It really depends on his asking price. If he wants $30 million APY or more you clearly let him walk, or try to trade him. If he can accept around $24 million APY I think you keep him.

He is only 23, give him time

I really wish felix would take over as a starter. I think that is an under talked about bust thus far.

One of quite a few….

Depends on how he progresses...you dont extended/pay "very good" as if they were great.

Chiefs have done a decent job at paying their exceptional players (Mahomes/Jones/Kelce)...you get into trouble when you are financially tethered, long-term, to replaceable talent.

Right now, Karlaftis is in that category...as someone else mentioned, if you are going to pay someone, pay a talent like Myles Garrett. You'll get your money's worth.

You assume he wants to play for the team that made the worst threepeat attempt ever.

it's also the best 3 peat attempt

because it's the only 3 peat attempt in existence.

Extend him, but listen to trade offers for sure.

His name isn't on Sports News enough to satisfy the long standing Chiefs fans. From all the way back to 2020

McDuffie can get top of the market tomorrow.

With George, I’m not in as big of hurry. Unless you’re getting a fairly solid deal. Aka 10 mil a year less than Crosby. We still have 2 more years of control. And if he does take that next step than I have no problem handing it over

If they can get a similar contract done to the 80 million 4 year deal that Buffalo are reportedly signing Gregory Rousseau to that would be a solid move.

I think Rousseau would be the floor for his contract.

They share the same agent too fwiw.

Was coming to this thread to mention what others just have.

If you wanna get George at a deal that’s reasonable to his actual value, sign him now. $20m per year like Rousseau got is fine. It’s a lot, but it’s not gonna kill you.

George has been a better player than Rousseau so far IMHO.

He's kinda carried our ass the last two playoff seasons. 7 sacks in 7 games at some really crucial times.