The Kansas City Chiefs' most impactful offseason defensive signing may have also been the most overlooked. Giving veteran safety Alohi Gilman a three-year, $24.75 million deal was a bargain of sorts, especially after losing Bryan Cook to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The former sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft arrives in Kansas City with a packed stat sheet. Gilman emerged as a starter for the Chargers in 2023 and kept the same role when they traded him to Baltimore last year mid-season. Over the last three years, Gilman has accumulated 213 total tackles, 23 pass deflections, one sack, three interceptions (one for a TD), and four forced fumbles.
And while he's never been a show-stopper or the guy who'll make highlight reels and steal all of the headlines, Gilman is the type of player who can provide mistake-free football on a weekly basis. Considering that, FanSided's Mike Phillips appointed him as the Chiefs' most likely breakout candidate for 2026:
"The Chiefs have received strong safety play over the years from the likes of Eric Berry and Tyrann Mathieu, making the addition of Gilman in free agency noteworthy," wrote Phillips. "Gilman appeared to level up his game after a midseason trade to Baltimore last season and could build on those gains under the tutelage of Steve Spagnuolo in a strong Kansas City defense."
Alohi Gilman was a true steal for the Chiefs and a 2026 breakout candidate
With just $15 million guaranteed and a measly $3.5 million cap hit this season, the Chiefs found tremendous value at one of the game's most overlooked positions. They got a player who, on paper, should be better than Bryan Cook while costing them less.
The safety position has been a bit of a headache in Kansas City for the past couple of years. Chamarri Conner is often asked to do it all, and Jaden Hicks hasn't gotten consistent opportunities or done much to earn them.
With Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Trent McDuffie leaving, the Chiefs will boast one of the youngest secondaries in the game. As such, a reliable veteran and strong communicator like Gilman should make an immediate impact as one of their defensive quarterbacks.
Perhaps expecting him to make a ton of splash plays or provide All-Pro-caliber play will only be wishful thinking, but the Chiefs don't need him to do that. They just need him to put his head down, get to work, and make winning plays. He has a strong feel for the ball, and the Chiefs could certainly use someone who can help them flip the field by causing turnovers.
Gilman still has to be more efficient in coverage, but he's shown the football IQ and instincts to thrive in any defensive scheme or system. He'll now play for the best defensive coordinator in pro football, so it'll be interesting to see how Steve Spagnuolo deploys him.
Safeties aren't often considered premium players, but modern defenses require complex schemes, trickery, and deception. Having players who can cover multiple spots on the defensive backfield is paramount, and the Chiefs may have gotten one of the most under-the-radar signings in this year's free-agency pool at roughly $8 million per year.
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