Trent McDuffie isn’t the only film junkie that the Kansas City Chiefs landed in the 2022 NFL draft.
Fellow first-round draft pick George Karlaftis also watches plenty of film, mostly to inform his game on the defensive side of the ball. Remember, Karlaftis is still fairly new to the game of football. He started playing during his Freshman year in high school and only played two full seasons at Purdue. He sees watching film as a way for him to constantly improve and add to his game.
“I like to watch film a lot,” Karlaftis told reporters at rookie minicamp. “I’ve watched just about everyone in the league, college and I’ve gotten film from as far back as 2009. I’ve watched a whole lot of guys, so I watch a whole lot of tape. Not one guy specifically. I like to watch guys who compare to me athletically, there are also guys that I watch that are in a whole different spectrum athletically. I like the whole gamut if you will.”
At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, Karlaftis said he watched guys like TJ and JJ Watt, Aaron Donald, Ryan Kerrigan and Khalil Mack. He actually likens himself most to Mack, mainly because of the way he converts speed to power, which Karlaftis says is one of his favorite pass-rush moves.
“Someone I think I compare myself to is Khalil Mack,” Karlaftis told reporters. “He has that speed to power. I see a lot of similarities between our games. A little different body types, but I think the same way we approach the game.”
One player that Karlaftis is often compared to is Ryan Kerrigan because he also played for Purdue and they’re similarly sized. Kerrigan is not only someone that Karlaftis has been able to watch tape on, but also someone that he looks to as a mentor as he continues to learn.
“He’s been great,” Karlaftis said. “He’s been great for me, mentor for sure. Someone that I can talk to freely and ask him questions about the game, about life, what the NFL’s all about, how to conduct my business. He’s been a great help and a good friend too.”
At the end of the day, Karlaftis seems to draw as much inspiration as he can from as many NFL players as he can. If there is something that he can learn or add to his toolbelt, he knows he’ll be better for it.
“Shoot, I mean (watch) everyone,” Karlaftis said. “I take little bits and pieces from just about everyone. I watch Khalil Mack for example. I watch Ryan Kerrigan, I watch the Bosa brothers (Nick and Joey). I watch just about everyone in the league and I’ve gotten a little bit better from watching each one of them.”