With the May 1 deadline approaching, the Kansas City Chiefs will officially exercise the fifth-year option on defensive end George Karlaftis. The decision secures his services through the 2026 season.
For Karlaftis, the Chiefs' decision locks in a $15.196 million salary for that fifth year—giving the young pass rusher a healthy raise after completing his initial rookie deal. For the Chiefs, it ensures team control over one of their most promising young defensive players for at least one more season.
Karlaftis, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has steadily developed into a cornerstone of Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive front. His high motor and consistent presence on the edge have helped fortify a Kansas City pass rush that’s become a defining strength during the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl runs.
Kansas City keeps control of a rising defensive star with the fifth-year option, but the bigger picture could point to more for Karlaftis soon.
Karlaftis, who is still only 24 years old, already has 24.5 sacks in his first three NFL seasons to go with 93 pressures. His importance to Spags can be seen in his increasing levels of responsibility, from playing on 64 percent of all defensive snaps in his first season to 83 percent in 2024.
That snap count was key to the value of his fifth-year option. Under the terms of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (negotiated in 2020), the amount due a player depends on both playing time and accolades. Karlaftis qualified under the “Playing Time” tier, based on his snap percentages across his first three seasons. His salary in 2026 will be the average of the 3rd to 20th highest at his position.
Financially, the $15M price tag is steep, but it represents solid value for a starting-caliber edge rusher entering his prime. The fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, and by exercising it now, the Chiefs avoid the uncertainty of future negotiations or the risk of Karlaftis hitting free agency after 2025.
But it's also important for another reason: it buys the Chiefs time to get a long-term extension with Karlaftis done without having to rush the process. General manager Brett Veach has already stated that he wants to get a deal done with Karlaftis for the long term, so the fifth-year option was an obvious first step.
Karlaftis has become a foundational player on a young, ascending defense that has already locked up Nick Bolton and is likely to do so for Trent McDuffie as well. Karlaftis can give the team a long-term building block up front and maintain defensive dominance for the next chapter of Chiefs football. It begins with this fifth-year option.