Other early signings have generated more press than the Kansas City Chiefs' ability to land safety Alohi Gilman. However, the three-year deal handed to the veteran safety might be the savviest move made by general manager Brett Veach on the defense.
Not only did the Chiefs' best safety Bryan Cook leave for a lucrative contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, but let's not forget that the team was already short on talent at the position as it was. Chamarri Conner is often asked to play out of position, while Jaden Hicks has never earned the complete trust of Steve Spagnuolo's staff.
Kansas City also decided to forgo the voice of experience at safety a year ago after losing Justin Reid. Now they've added Gilman to not only replenish the talent level following Cook's departure but to also give them a seasoned professional in the mix of what is likely to be a very, very young secondary. Gilman's 85 games played over the last six years make him the elder statesman in the room (for now).
To better understand Gilman's potential impact, we reached out to Chargers expert Jason Reed, who covered Gilman for the first 5.5 seasons of his career, to find out what to expect.
What should Chiefs fans be excited about with the addition of Gilman?
In Alohi Gilman, the Chiefs are getting a safety who will raise the floor of the secondary and provide reliable, consistent play. At this best, Gilman is a true ballhawk who forces turnovers both in the passing game and in attacking ball carriers with the football. Chargers fans saw this firsthand in 2023 when he picked off two passes, forced three fumbles, and recovered two more fumbles over the course of the season. And somehow, some way, Gilman almost always came away with these takeaways in the biggest spots.
What are his strengths and weaknesses in coverage? Against the run?
Gilman has been up and down at times in coverage throughout his NFL career, although his ability to play in any defense has shone through. Whether it was Brandon Staley's over-complicated defensive system or Jesse Minter's player-first system, Gilman was usually a steady presence with only minor slip ups. He's good, not great, against the run and isn't much of a weapon in rushing the passer. Although I wouldn't be shocked if Steve Spagnulo unlocks that aspect of his game.
Let's set some expectations for Gilman.
Don't expect Gilman to come in and be a Pro Bowl safety for the Chiefs, but you also don't need to worry about him coming in and costing the Chiefs on defense. He's a serviceable player who is good enough in all areas to play every single down (as long as he stays healthy), even if he never breaks through the glass ceiling as an individual player.