George Karlaftis

Karlaftis took the next step toward stardom in 2023, reaching the double-digit sacks threshold (10.5) in his second professional campaign despite playing only minimally more snaps (719 to 703 as a rookie in 2022). Karlaftis added an impressive four-sack output to lead the team in the playoffs, potentially foreshadowing a big defensive season ahead for him and a unit that retains most of its personnel from a season ago.

Karlaftis, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, handled a regular role on defense for the Chiefs from the get-go, logging 49 snaps in Week 1. However, things didn't really click for the 6-4, 263-pounder early on, as he racked up just a half-sack and 18 tackles over his first 10 games. Things picked up for the Purdue product in Week 12, starting a stretch over the final seven regular-season games in which he recorded 5.5 sacks. While Karlaftis isn't going to be a tackle machine working on the end, he could prove a valuable commodity in the sacks department if he can carry his late-season momentum into the coming campaign.

Kansas City struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks last season, finishing the regular season with the fourth-fewest sacks (31) in the league. Enter Karlaftis, who posted 7.5 sacks as a freshman in 2019 and finished last year with 4.5 sacks and 39 tackles last year. He should settle into pass-rushing duties opposite Frank Clark on the edge, an area that was lacking last season. Karlafts will likely be given the green light as a starter out of the gate, assuming he proves worthy in camp.