KC Chiefs select George Karlaftis in 2022 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs have addressed the edge rusher position by taking George Karlaftis at the bottom of the first round.

The Kansas City Chiefs came into the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with two selections and faced questions as to whether or not they would still have two by the end of the night. As it turns out, the Chiefs got their second pick in at No. 30  overall with the selection of Purdue pass rusher George Karlaftis.

Karlaftis has been regarded as one of the top pass rushers in this year’s deep draft class and has put up loads of production in his three years at Purdue, from a freshman season in which he had 17 tackles for loss, to another solid junior season with 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He ends his career with the Boilermakers with 27 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 6 passes deflected.

The Chiefs now have Karlaftis as a productive pass rusher entering the league to help at an otherwise thin position, Frank Clark is back after restructuring his contract, and the Chiefs have Joshua Kaindoh and Michael Danna returning to the mix as rotational parts. The Chiefs are likely to chase Melvin Ingram in free agency as well but there’s now a solid core of young players to work with alongside the vets. Still, it’s likely that Brett Veach will do some more work here before the draft and offseason are both over.

Earlier in the first round, the Chiefs added help in the secondary with the selection of versatile defensive back Trent McDuffie from Washington. The Chiefs gave up an extra third and fourth-round pick along with No. 29 overall in order to secure McDuffie’s services.

The Chiefs still have eight picks remaining in the draft over the next two days, including both of their second-round picks and one each in the third and fourth rounds. They end the draft with four selections in the seventh and final round on day three.