Report: Chiefs rework George Karlaftis' contract, create $7.7M in cap space

The Kansas City Chiefs have created $7.7 million in salary cap space by converting $9.685 million of defensive end George Karlaftis' salary into a signing bonus, Spotrac reported on Wednesday.

The Chiefs now are an estimated $13.3 million under the salary cap, per the report, which could be applied toward signing their two first-round draft picks. Former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (No. 6 selection) has an estimated first-year cost of $7.6 million, and former Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods (No. 29) has an estimated charge of $3.3 million, Spotrac reported.

Kansas City has signed its five other selections from the 2026 draft.

Karlaftis, 25, had a base salary of $1.1 million in 2025 and collected a $5.5 million signing bonus proration, according to Spotrac.

He is under contract through 2030 after signing a four-year, $93 million extension last July. Karlaftis carries a salary cap charge of $7.4 million this coming season, a cap hit of $17.2 million in 2027 and more than $23 million in each season from 2028 through 2030, per Spotrac.

Karlaftis recorded 48 tackles, six sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits and one fumble recovery in 16 games (15 starts) last season.

For his career, Karlaftis has 163 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, 79 QB hits, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries in 65 regular-season games (59 starts). The 2022 first-round pick also has 36 tackles and eight sacks in 10 playoff games (nine starts), including Super Bowl championship teams in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

--Field Level Media