Chiefs bet $24 million on Alohi Gilman to save their broken secondary

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering a new season with a dramatically overhauled secondary, a unit that lost three key contributors from the previous year. Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson both signed with the Los Angeles Rams, while safety Bryan Cook joined the Cincinnati Bengals. These departures created a significant void in experience and on-field communication within defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. To address this, the Chiefs brought in a group of new players including Kader Kohou, L'Jarius Sneed, Kaiir Elam, and first-round draft pick Mansoor Delane. However, the most significant addition appears to be safety Alohi Gilman, a 28-year-old veteran who signed a three-year contract worth $24 million. Gilman's role is clearly defined: he is expected to be the leader and stabilizing force for a secondary composed largely of players attempting to revive their careers, former first-round picks who did not meet expectations with their original teams, and unproven rookies.

Gilman's recent track record provides the rationale for the Chiefs' investment and their confidence in his leadership. During the 2025 season, he was traded mid-year from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Baltimore Ravens. In his time with the Ravens, he demonstrated his playmaking ability by recording nine pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and scoring a memorable defensive touchdown. This performance showcased his versatility and impact, proving he could quickly integrate into a new defensive system and make crucial plays. The Chiefs are banking on him to replicate that success and provide the same level of reliability and communication in Kansas City. Spagnuolo's defensive philosophy relies heavily on a secondary that can execute complex coverages and disguise blitzes, which frees him up to be creative with pressures from the front seven. A dependable communicator like Gilman, who can play deep, support the run in the box, and blitz effectively, is essential for this system to function at a high level.

The composition of the new-look secondary underscores why Gilman's leadership is so critical. The other new additions have specific, and in some cases, limited roles. L'Jarius Sneed and the rookie Mansoor Delane are projected strictly as outside cornerbacks. Kader Kohou finds himself in a competition for a roster spot against Chris Roland-Wallace and Jadon Canady, indicating his place on the team is not guaranteed. While Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks have familiarity with Spagnuolo's system from previous seasons, the team's decision to allocate significant financial resources to Gilman suggests they viewed an external, proven veteran leader as a necessity. The front office determined that internal options were not sufficient to anchor the unit after the mass exodus of talent.

The consequences of this roster reconstruction are substantial for the Chiefs' defensive identity. The team is transitioning from a secondary with established, homegrown talent to a patchwork unit that must gel quickly. The pressure on Gilman is immense, as he is not only tasked with his own on-field performance but also with elevating the play of those around him and ensuring the entire group operates cohesively. If Gilman successfully fills this leadership void, he can enable Spagnuolo's aggressive defensive schemes and mask the inexperience or limitations of other players. Conversely, if the unit fails to communicate or execute, the Chiefs' defense could become a significant liability, undermining their championship aspirations. The success or failure of this $24 million bet on Gilman's leadership will likely be a defining storyline for the Chiefs' season.