George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue: Scouting Report

Height: 6’4’’

Weight: 275

Overall

George Karlaftis is a powerful edge rusher in Purdue’s 4-3 defense. He was used as both an edge rusher and on the interior of the line, but he fits best on the edge. In his 3 college seasons, he played in 27 games, starting all of them. He missed a majority of the 2020 season due to a lower leg injury and a positive COVID test, but he was a full go this past season. He has great size and strength with a good blend of speed when chasing down the quarterback.

Pass Game

Karlaftis has a good first step but needs to be more consistent with his explosiveness off the line and initial punch. He rushed in both a 4-point stance and standing up on the edge. He shows flashes of incredible strength when bull rushing and the hand technique to swim around his man. Besides his strength and hands though, he lacks the balance and bend to flatten himself once he is around his man off the edge. He also got shut down far too often in one-on-one blocks, especially against tight ends. He has very good intangibles, but his lack of consistency and agility is concerning. He was rarely used in coverage while at Purdue and he should not be used in coverage at the next level.

Run Game

Karlaftis is a good tackler, but he has a lot of struggles against the run. He was constantly washed out of plays and lacks the lateral quickness to fill gaps and get to the ball carrier in running lanes. He also had an inconsistent motor on film and did not often chase the down plays down the field. His lack of balance and agility also makes it very difficult for him to make open field tackles.

Last Word

George Karlaftis projects best as a 7-technique edge rusher in a 4-3 scheme but he can also be moved all over the line with his excellent size and strength. He plays his best as a pass rusher, but he needs to continue to improve his technique and bend to be a consistent playmaker off the edge. On third downs he can be a big impact player and collapse the pocket with his bull rushing strength. He projects as a very good special team player as well if that is where he is needed in the NFL.

One-Liner: George Karlaftis is a powerful edge rusher who shows flashes of dominance, but he needs to improve his balance and bend before he can be a dominant 3 down player.

Grade: 6.7 (All 3 Down Player)

Games Watched: 2021 – Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon State, Notre Dame

Team Fits: New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles