Kansas City, MO. The Kansas City Chiefs strengthened their secondary this offseason by landing a veteran safety who surprisingly chose a smaller contract in order to join one of the NFL’s most successful franchises.

According to sources close to the negotiations, the Las Vegas Raiders had offered a three-year deal worth roughly $30 million in an effort to bring the veteran defensive back to Las Vegas. Financially, it was the most lucrative proposal on the table.

But the player ultimately chose a different path.

The Chiefs and Alohi Gilman agreed to a three-year contract worth $24.75 million, a deal that was smaller than the Raiders’ offer but came with the opportunity to compete immediately for a championship.

“I’ve always admired the way Kansas City plays football,” Gilman shared when discussing his decision. “Watching Patrick Mahomes lead this team, seeing how they compete every year, it’s something I wanted to be part of.”

Gilman also credited longtime friend and teammate Drue Tranquill for helping convince him that Kansas City was the right destination. The two previously played together at Notre Dame and later crossed paths again during their time with the Chargers.

The move comes at an important time for Kansas City’s defense. The Chiefs lost starting safety Bryan Cook in free agency, leaving a significant opening in the secondary that Gilman is now expected to help fill.

Gilman enters Kansas City following a productive 2025 season split between the Chargers and the Ravens, where he recorded 90 tackles, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown.

For the Chiefs, the signing represents another calculated move to maintain a championship level roster around superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

For Gilman, the decision ultimately came down to something bigger than money.

Joining a perennial contender led by one of the league’s greatest quarterbacks was worth leaving several million dollars on the table.