The Kansas City Chiefs made a signing to counter at least one of their recent losses in the secondary, adding safety Alohi Gilman with a three-year, $24.75 million deal that includes $15 million in guaranteed money, according to an ESPN report based on information a source gave ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday night.
A move like this was expected after the Chiefs traded slot corner Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, then saw cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook depart in free agency to the Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.
The 28-year old Gilman represents a cheaper starter at safety after losing Cook. He was acquired by the Baltimore Ravens in early October from the Los Angeles Chargers, and he helped stabilize the Ravens secondary, according to ESPN. Gilman started a total of 12 games at deep safety, which allowed fellow safety Kyle Hamilton to play more in the box.
Gilman was known for his ability to diagnose pass plays, while Cook was considered more versatile, so the Chiefs evidently preferred to go that route with their back-end coverage while saving some money. Cook’s deal with the Bengals was for three years, $42 million with just $14 million guaranteed, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.
Gilman also became a leader in the Ravens secondary, and he led the Baltimore secondary with 68 tackles, although ESPN noted that he struggled at times to wrap up ball carriers. He was selected in the sixth round by the Chargers back in 2020, and Gilman’s career numbers include 320 tackles, five interceptions, 27 passes defended, five force fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
The Chiefs will continue to revamp their secondary, probably through the draft, but they may also choose to sign another cornerback. Kansas City has a couple of depth options who played well in late-season auditions, but those games were largely meaningless as the Chiefs finished 6-11 after losing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a knee injury.
This move may also help indicate where the Chiefs will go during the draft next month. Kansas City has a slew of picks, including a pair of first rounders, and GM Brett Veach has mentioned the Chiefs pass rash as an area that needs to improve.
The Chiefs have the ability to move up from ninth with their initial first rounder, and adding a receiver like Carnell Tate of Ohio State is also considered a strong possibility depending on where Tate ends up in the top ten.