Chris Jones’ designated successor named Chiefs’ most promising building block for 2024

Two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to win their third consecutive title, an unprecedented feat in the NFL.

For the Chiefs to accomplish this impressive feat, their defense will have to play excellently again like they did last season. Kansas City ranked second in scoring defense (17.3 points allowed per game) and sacks (56), behind only the Baltimore Ravens.

All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ success in 2023, recording 30 total tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

The star defensive lineman wreaked havoc in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and was rewarded with a five-year, $178.75 million contract extension in the offseason. But with Jones turning 30, the Chiefs can’t rely on him to carry the load for the next five years.

Kansas City will need other players to step in and take over from the veteran defensive tackle. The good news for the Chiefs is that they have a rising star in George Karlaftis who is only getting better after a stellar 2023 season.

David Kenyon of Bleacher Report believes the former first-round pick is Kansas City’s most promising building block for the 2024 season, which is high praise for the 23-year-old defensive lineman.

“Wide receiver Rashee Rice is a reasonable choice, regardless of his off-field concerns. But the Chiefs have a rising star on the edge, where George Karlaftis broke out in 2023. He collected 10.5 sacks and 35 pressures in the regular season and three sacks in the playoffs.”

The 6’4″ defensive end had just six sacks as a rookie in 2022, but he exploded in 2023 and gave offensive lines plenty to think about. In addition to his 10.5 sacks in the regular season, Karlaftis recorded 17 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss.

The former Purdue standout defensive end followed up his impressive sophomore season in the playoffs, which included five combined tackles, three quarterback hits and half a sack in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers.

Given the direction Karlaftis is taking in his young NFL career, he is in line for a lucrative multi-year contract extension.

We know what the Chiefs offense will do with Patrick Mahomes in 2024, but if Karlaftis and Chris Jones can form that dynamic duo on the defensive line, good luck trying to slow down Kansas City.

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