Chiefs George Karlaftis extended - 4 years, $93 Million

[Draconator]

 

[Victory Formation]

Congratulations! Good for him! 

[HappyDays]

I thought Rousseau's extension was a bit of an overpay. I feel the same about this one. Karlaftis gets $3.25M more AAV and an extra $8M guaranteed compared to Rousseau. Not a bad deal, just fine for a good but not great player.

[Don Otreply]

All right, who’s getting fired? 

[DapperCam]

Kind of an overpay to me. 8 sacks per season average is marginally better than Epenesa, and he has Chris Jones demanding all of the attention to his benefit.

[Johnny Bravo]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

How does this deal look next to Groot’s deal? 

From AI because I was wondering the same thing.

George Karlaftis earns more than Gregory Rousseau in every category:

| Player               | Team               | Years | Total Value | Avg/Year | Guaranteed |
|----------------------|--------------------|-------|-------------|----------|-------------|
| Karlaftis            | Chiefs             | 4     | $93M        | $23.25M  | $62M        |
| Rousseau             | Bills              | 4     | $80M        | $20M     | $54M        |

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Seems like a bit of an overpay. His pass rush number per PFF seems better than I would have expected. Id say Groot still has more upside but also disappears for long stretches of games/seasons compared to a more consistent Karlaftis.

[SCBills]

Rousseau and Karlaftis are similar tier EDGE players, but I think Rousseau has more potential left in him given his freakish size and relative raw ability coming into the NFL.

 

Rousseau has also never had a Chris Jones level guy to play off of. 

[Billl]

In 4 seasons, Rousseau has 25 regular season sacks and 3 postseason sacks.  In 3 seasons, Karlaftis has 24.5 regular season sacks and 8 postseason sacks.  He’s now under control for 6 more seasons at $110,000,000 total.  That’s a very reasonable deal.

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, Billl said:

In 4 seasons, Rousseau has 25 regular season sacks and 3 postseason sacks.  In 3 seasons, Karlaftis has 24.5 regular season sacks and 8 postseason sacks.  He’s now under control for 6 more seasons at $110,000,000 total.  That’s a very reasonable deal.

Do Chiefs fan believe Karlaftis has 1A level EDGE ability if Chris Jones isn’t in the picture?

 

Thats been the debate here with Rousseau.. Can he be a DE1?  
 

Rousseau is an elite run defender who does get pressure but lacks the big sack numbers so far.  That said, the only time he’s had an elite talent to play off of was the year we signed Von, for 11 games, before Von tore his ACL.  I do wonder what he’d look like with a Chris Jones on the interior.   
 

Chiefs were definitely paying Karlaftis though.  Just like the Bills were paying Rousseau.  Even if they never become DE1’s.. you can’t let young talent like that at a premium position leave due to a 20Mish price tag. 

[Ya Digg?]

4 minutes ago, Billl said:

In 4 seasons, Rousseau has 25 regular season sacks and 3 postseason sacks.  In 3 seasons, Karlaftis has 24.5 regular season sacks and 8 postseason sacks.  He’s now under control for 6 more seasons at $110,000,000 total.  That’s a very reasonable deal.

Perhaps, but will it still be in a year or two when Chris Jones is a little older, perhaps not as dominating, or might even be off the team? 

[SectionC3]

5 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Rousseau and Karlaftis are similar tier EDGE players, but I think Rousseau has more potential left in him given his freakish size and relative raw ability coming into the NFL.

 

Rousseau has also never had a Chris Jones level guy to play off of. 

Agreed.  Rousseau is also, easily, a "first off the bus" guy.  I noticed recently that his locker is right next to the door in the gameday room.  The Bills see that too.  Always helps to walk by the baddest dudes (Allen's is next to his) on the way out the door.  

 

[Billl]

9 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Do Chiefs fan believe Karlaftis has 1A level EDGE ability if Chris Jones isn’t in the picture?

 

Thats been the debate here with Rousseau.. Can he be a DE1?  
 

Rousseau is an elite run defender who does get pressure but lacks the big sack numbers so far.  That said, the only time he’s had an elite talent to play off of was the year we signed Von, for 11 games, before Von tore his ACL.  I do wonder what he’d look like with a Chris Jones on the interior.   
 

Chiefs were definitely paying Karlaftis though.  Just like the Bills were paying Rousseau.  Even if they never become DE1’s.. you can’t let young talent like that at a premium position leave due to a 20Mish price tag. 

He’s a lower end #1 edge or an excellent #2.  I think he’ll live in the 8-12 sack range for most of his career.  He’s not an athletic freak, but he wins by being relentless.  If he’s your best pass rusher, you probably don’t have a great pass rush.

Edited July 20 by Billl

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Seems like a bit of an overpay. His pass rush number per PFF seems better than I would have expected. Id say Groot still has more upside but also disappears for long stretches of games/seasons compared to a more consistent Karlaftis.

Agree that it seems to be a bit of an overpay, but not egregious. Karlaftis has played very well in the postseason though. That’s certainly worth something.

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, Billl said:

In 4 seasons, Rousseau has 25 regular season sacks and 3 postseason sacks.  In 3 seasons, Karlaftis has 24.5 regular season sacks and 8 postseason sacks.  He’s now under control for 6 more seasons at $110,000,000 total.  That’s a very reasonable deal.

Would've been nice to have a Karlaftis over an Elam.

[ngbills]

Man the Chiefs do a good job of paying everyone somehow. With Mahomes and Kelce, they are still able to give big deals to Smith, Taylor, Jones, Humphrey and now Karlaftis. They have top 10 value contracts at QB, TE, T, G, C, DE, DT...a few of them top 3. 

[BillsShredder83]

10 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Man the Chiefs do a good job of paying everyone somehow. With Mahomes and Kelce, they are still able to give big deals to Smith, Taylor, Jones, Humphrey and now Karlaftis. They have top 10 value contracts at QB, TE, T, G, C, DE, DT...a few of them top 3. 

This doesnt seem like crazy money for a DE in 2025.  Looks like it fits him as a middle of the pack#1.high end #2, with a reasonable expectation of still having moderate-upside.  I like Groot more, because he's so new to football still & has unteachable size.

 

Karloftis has the higher floor, and lower ceiling to Groot.  Guys that arent going to kill you if they're your #1, and if you can pair them with a high-end #1, could be an absolutely lethal #2

[Brand J]

15 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Man the Chiefs do a good job of paying everyone somehow. With Mahomes and Kelce, they are still able to give big deals to Smith, Taylor, Jones, Humphrey and now Karlaftis. They have top 10 value contracts at QB, TE, T, G, C, DE, DT...a few of them top 3. 

On the heel’s of Sauce Gardner’s massive extension, Trent McDuffie will take a bite out of their wallet too. Chiefs had a lot of cap space, but are now having to spend it just to retain their own players.

[billsfan89]

22 hours ago, HappyDays said:

I thought Rousseau's extension was a bit of an overpay. I feel the same about this one. Karlaftis gets $3.25M more AAV and an extra $8M guaranteed compared to Rousseau. Not a bad deal, just fine for a good but not great player.

He seems like an unsung hero guy because his sack totals are good (6/10.5/8) he’s been durable and known to be an elite run defender. Seems like he’s Groot but with a touch more pass rush pop which is probably why he got paid a bit more. Overall both guys seem like their extensions made sense for their level of production 

[Nephilim17]

I'm no expert of his regular season production but I see the dude get pressure and make plays in the playoffs. I'd take him.