Overview

• The contract includes $62 million in guarantees and carries an average annual value of $23.25 million, ranking Karlaftis among the NFL’s top 10 highest-paid edge rushers.
• A first-round pick in 2022, Karlaftis has started every game of his three-year career and recorded 24.5 sacks during that span.
• The deal extends Karlaftis’ Chiefs tenure through the 2030 season and follows a similar four-year extension for guard Trey Smith just days earlier.
• General manager Brett Veach’s early-extension approach aims to lock in homegrown contributors while preserving salary-cap flexibility.
• The Chiefs have picked up cornerback Trent McDuffie’s fifth-year option and are preparing to finalize a long-term extension for their 2022 first-round pick.