Trent McDuffie vs. George Karlaftis: Who Has the Higher Ceiling for Chiefs Defense?
![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) catches a pass but can’t get his second foot inbounds as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) pressures during the second quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F1bc2bcae7ed61b0c7e7593eb2375ba6b6458875922aa6df8781b93ec399d9997.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) catches a pass but can’t get his second foot inbounds as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) pressures during the second quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
George Karlaftis
Not to be outdone, Karlaftis already has two sacks in the young season while displaying a new cache of pass-rushing moves and enhanced explosiveness.
Also selected in the first round of last year’s draft, the former Purdue star looks like a foundational piece of the defense for years to come.
George Karlaftis - 8 pressures vs the Bears (4th most in NFL Week 3)
— PFF KC Chiefs (@PFF_Chiefs) September 26, 2023
😤 pic.twitter.com/qzLvPKKQuX
That’ll play. It’s particularly exciting to think about what Karlaftis can do with Chris Jones the rest of the season. Jones commands so much attention that it frees Karlaftis and the other pass-rushers up to attack one-on-one matchups.
Once Omenihu comes back, Kansas City could easily once again rank at the top of the league in sacks.
George Karlaftis recorded a career-high eight pressures in yesterday's win over Chicago.
— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) September 25, 2023
His 16 pressures this season rank sixth in the NFL behind only Aidan Hutchinson (19), Maxx Crosby (19), T.J. Watt (19), Myles Garrett (18) and Micah Parsons (17).
That’s an elite list of names to be on. If Karlaftis continues this emergence, Veach may have no choice but to find a way to keep both second-year players.