The Kansas City Chiefs have been full of surprises this offseason, sending away Joe Thuney in a stunning trade while letting Justin Reid, Tershawn Wharton, Mecole Hardman, and more walk as the organization tries to rebound from a disappointing Super Bowl loss.
There's been significant discussion around star defensive end George Karlaftis and cornerback Trent McDuffie's respective futures. The Chiefs have until May 1 to decide on their fifth-year options, creating an interesting situation regarding potential contract extensions.
Based on their positions, the two are likely to reset the market when those extensions come in. Unfortunately for Karlaftis, that could make him expendable. One unexpected projected trade now sees Kansas City getting ahead of the curve and dealing the rising star before it's too late.
Chiefs Trade George Karlaftis to Browns in Wild Predicted Trade
In this projected trade, the Chiefs send Karlaftis and the latter of their two 2025 third-round picks in exchange for the Browns' second-rounder both in 2025 and 2026. Since Cleveland picks second overall, their second-rounder is near the top of the round and would nearly be a first-round value.
From the Browns' perspective, they'd land a perfect partner for Myles Garrett while still being able to draft Travis Hunter at No. 2. For the Chiefs, they'd avoid paying $100 million or more to Karlaftis and recoup excellent draft value in the process.
That said, this would be tough to stomach for fans who have come to love Karlaftis. In just three seasons, he's already notched the second-most playoff sacks in franchise history. If he sticks around, he could pass Frank Clark as soon as next year. He has 24.5 in the regular season and his high motor has made him beloved among fans, so losing him would be painful.
Keeping both Karlaftis and McDuffie may prove to be untenable though dependent on the salary cap. In this particular situation, the Chiefs would get the chance to find his replacement and avoid the hefty contract he'll surely demand.
It'd hurt, yet this is a trade that makes sense for both sides.