It may be early June, but the NFL world never stops, and news keeps flying. The Kansas City Chiefs are on the march to avenge their 2025 debacle of a season after going 6-11, missing the playoffs, and losing big names on both sides of the ball to trades and free agency.
At the head of that snake is general manager Brett Veach, who has been busy, to say the least, this offseason. His latest big move was restructuring the contract of defensive end George Karlaftis, saving the Chiefs $7.7 million in cap space, clearing the way for KC to sign it’s second and fourth round draft picks, R Mason Thomas and Jadon Canady, to their respective rookie deals.
It also served as a reminder of what is one of the Chiefs' best contracts on the books in Karlaftis. Prior to the 2025 season, Karlaftis had accrued three seasons in the league and accumulated 25 sacks and over 100 total tackles. Veach promptly rewarded the former first-round pick by signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract, which would add to the remaining year on his rookie contract as well as a $15 million fifth-year option.
It was more or less a long-term, six-year investment for roughly $110 million, which comes out to just over $18.3 AAV (Average Annual Value), with ultra-flexibility for years to come. Well, after a down year in 2025, not just for Karlaftis, but the entire Chiefs defensive line, he produced just six sacks, but still a career high in tackles (48). KC heads into this year with not just career-high hopes for him, but also knowing that after the latest Pittsburgh Steelers extension of Nick Herbig, George Karlaftis remains one of the league's best bargains.
Chiefs can rest easy knowing George Karlaftis should outperform his current contract
On Tuesday afternoon, fellow AFC opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, decided to keep one of their own edge-rushers around for the long term in 24-year-old Nick Herbig. They signed him to a four-year, $100 million deal, which includes $42 million guaranteed, which will be spread out over five years, along with his $3.8 million current cap hit, according to Spotrac.
Herbig, a fourth-round pick, is nowhere near the raw talent Karlaftis was when he came out of Purdue and has only produced 17 sacks over 70 tackles, compared to Karlaftis’ 25 and 100-plus after his first three years.
This latest contract extension is yet another reminder as to why Brett Veach was smart in extending Karlaftis a couple of seasons early and not wait for the market to become too expensive. It benefits the Chiefs with the ability to sign more quality players and allows them options when working through various salary cap situations.
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