Getty

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

The Kansas City Chiefs saw a mass exodus in their secondary this offseason, trading NFL All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, then watching their other starting cornerback, Jaylen Watson, also leave for the Rams in free agency. Starting safety Bryan Cook also left, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.

The Chiefs moved quickly to try to shore up their secondary with proven talent, signing free agent safety Alohi Gilman away from the Baltimore Ravens on a 3-year, $24.75 million contract — a move Fox Sports NFL reporter Eric Williams called the NFL’s “Best Under-the-Radar” free agency signing.

“Kansas City had a lot of institutional knowledge and talent on the defensive side of the football leave the building this offseason,” Williams wrote. ” …  Signing Gilman to a three-year, $24.75 million deal from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency brings some experience and versatility to Kansas City’s defense.  The former Los Angeles Charger returns to the AFC West and should provide some leadership for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as he attempts to remake the defense with more additions through the draft.”

Ravens Watched Starters Fly Out Door in Free Agency

Gilman’s late-night signing with the Chiefs was the final blow for the Ravens on the 1st day of NFL free agency on March 9 and the 7th starter to leave Baltimore in a 24-hour period.

Which seems like a lot.

“The Chiefs are signing safety Alohi Gilman to a three-year, $24.75 million deal with $15M fully guaranteed,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on March 9.

“And there it is,” ESPN’s Peter Schrager wrote on his official X account right after Gilman signed with the Chiefs. “After the bloodbath to their defensive backfield the last four days, this is a big one. Love the fit, too.”

Alohi Gilman Helped Lift Defense Following Trade

Gilman was one of the big reasons why the Ravens’ defense was so much better in the second half of the season.

On October 7, Baltimore traded edge rusher and former 1st round pick Odafe Oweh and a 2026 7th round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for Gilman and a 2026 5th round pick.

Gilman started all 17 games he played in for both teams and finished with 90 tackles, 9 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 defensive touchdown.

In Week 13, in 1 of the most unusual scoring plays you’ll ever see, edge rusher Kyle Van Noy handed the ball backwards to Gilman after intercepting a pass by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow deep in Ravens territory, and Gilman raced 84 yards for a touchdown in a 24-0 win.

“Today’s Kyle Van Noy-Alohi Gilman play was the first lateral/handoff on an interception return resulting in a TD since Ed Reed to Dawan Landry in 2010,” NFL.com Senior Researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming wrote on X on December 14.

Ravens Already Have NFL’s Best Safety

While losing Gilman isn’t great, the Ravens already have the NFL’s best safety in 3-time NFL All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and 2025 1st round pick in safety Malaki Starks.

They also signed New England Patriots safety Jalynn Hawkins to a 2-year, $10 million free agent contract to be their 3rd starting safety.

“With Hamilton playing closer to the line, the Ravens will need a deep safety like Hawkins, who ranked fourth among safeties last season with four interceptions,” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote. “The biggest issue with Hawkins is 13 missed tackles over the past two seasons.”

Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame