5 Bold Takes at Edge Rusher

Photo: USA Today Sports

The 2024 season is almost upon us, so it's time for bold takes.

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We asked the Footballguys staff to give their ride-or-die takes for this season. Here's what they said.

A Bold Take from Gary Davenport

George Karlaftis of the Chiefs will finish his third NFL season as a top-10 fantasy defensive lineman.

There isn’t an edge-rusher who had over 45 tackles and 10 sacks last year who has been talked about less than Karlaftis. He may be Kansas City’s best pass-rusher, but when you live in the land of Mahomes and Kelce, there isn’t much spotlight left to be had. 

Karlaftis will carve out more of that spotlight in 2024, though. The improvement he showed between his first and second seasons was impressive, and much like Maxx Crosby of the Raiders, folks are coming around to the idea that Karlaftis is more than just a “high motor” player. I’m not comparing the two players. Just pointing out that they shared the “limited athletically” tag entering the league. Given the ears-pinned-back playing-from-ahead opportunities that Karlaftis should see again in 2024, he takes the next step—and wins some IDP leagues in the process.

A Bold Take from Joseph Haggan

Yaya Diaby will finish as an Edge1.

Diaby came on slow in 2023 with just eight tackles in his first six games. From there on, he looked like a seasoned vet. He posted 30 tackles and seven-and-a-half sacks over the final 11 games. For reference. That is a pace of 46 tackles and 11.5 sacks for 17 games...as a rookie. Shaquil Barrett retired this off-season, leaving a starting role wide open across from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Tryon-Shoyinka has been less than exciting, to say the least. The Buccaneers have a stout interior with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, which will collapse the pocket, thus forcing quarterbacks to vacate outside. Whether it's winning off the edge or completing clean-up sacks, Diaby should be in for a big year.