The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the George Karlaftis 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
Size: 6-foot-4, 275 pounds
Class: Junior
2021 stats: 39 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Karlaftis learned the game quickly and is now one of the best pass rushers in the country. He has decided to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.
After moving to West Lafayette from Greece, Karlaftis became a four-star recruit and stayed in the city to go to Purdue. He had a huge freshman season that ended with 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Purdue had a rough season and finished at 4-8. He missed a lot of time as a sophomore and only registered two tackles for loss and two sacks in a COVID-shortened season. The Boilermakers won two of their six games in 2020. For the 2021 season, Karlaftis had 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Although he opted out of the bowl game, Purdue was still able to win, which took their record to 9-4.
Following the regular season, Karlaftis declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be an early first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Karlaftis has good size and strength for the NFL. He stands 6-foot-4, which is solid for an edge rusher, and 275 pounds, which will make him one of the biggest true edge defenders in the draft. He is able to shed blocks with his play strength and gives a different look than many other edge rushers. Karlaftis uses his size to win with power.
He has an impressive range of pass rush moves and counters to utilize. Karlaftis can rip, dip, swim and even showed off the ability to do the famous Reggie White hump move. On top of good moves, he has a good plan to get to the quarterback. If the offensive lineman he is up across combats him, he has impressive counter moves to go to in order to beat his man.
Despite being a bigger edge rusher, Karlaftis has a really quick first step. He is one of the first players to get a jump at the snap of the ball on either side of the line of scrimmage. After he starts the rep with quickness, his natural power can take over when the offensive lineman he is going up against is off balance trying to catch up.
Length is an area that will be called into question with Karlaftis. He doesn’t appear to have the longest arms and isn’t always the fastest to shed blocks, especially against the run. His power and hands help him disengage, but he could struggle against offensive linemen with longer arms.
He isn’t the most flexible pass rusher, which can give him trouble. Karlaftis wins with his quick first step, pass rushing moves and power, but he doesn’t routinely win on the edge with any type of bend. The lack of bend paired with the lack of length could give him more trouble rushing the passer as a pro.
Karlaftis could be a little bit of a tweener. He is a bigger edge rusher and has shown versatility to rush inside, but he is a little small for an interior defensive lineman. His best fit might be as a 3-4 defensive end, where he could utilize his power and pass-rushing moves, but he wouldn’t be on the edge.
Projected Draft Range: Top 15 Pick
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