3 Prospects the New York Giants could target if they trade back in the draft
By Reese Nasser
George Karlaftis, Edge
Purdue’s George Karlaftis could very well be a top-three edge rusher in this year’s class.
In recent weeks, other edge prospects such as Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson and Georgia’s Travon Walker have steadily moved up draft boards, but that doesn’t discredit just how good Karlaftis can be at the next level.
The recent rise of other prospects has led to many believing that Karlaftis could slip to anywhere between the late teens to the end of the first round. If that is the case, he could end up being a steal for a team picking around there.
While at Purdue, Karlaftis developed into a dominating rusher who wins off of power. He appeared in 26 games during his three years in college. During that time he recorded 97 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. He also accounted for 36 quarterback hits and 66 hurries.
Karlaftis has the makings of a day one starter, especially if put on this Giants defense. While playing in a strong conference in the Big 10, Karlaftis was able to dominate on a weekly basis. He finished last season with a PFF grade of 87.2.
His most notable game of last season came against Iowa, a team that regularly has elite talent along the offensive line. He recorded 12 total pressures, consisting of one sack, four quarterback hits, and seven hurries. He finished the game with a pass-rush grade of 85.7 and an overall defensive grade of 79.5.
As noted, Karlaftis typically wins his matchups through power. He comes in at 6-4 and 275 pounds. The strength that he has will help him deal with the size of opposing lineman that he will face at the next level.
Given time, there is a chance that Karlaftis’ speed-rushing skill will be able to match his power. This could unlock a whole new level of his game. His issues implementing speed into his arsenal is arguably the biggest flaw in his all-around solid game. Up to this point, he hasn’t needed to rely on speed due to how successful he is in other areas.
Putting Karlaftis onto this defense immediately fills their need for a talented edge rusher. He has the potential to make a strong impact from day one.