The Los Angeles Chargers' decision to move off of Alohi Gilman last season, swapping him and a fifth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Odafe Oweh and a seventh-rounder, was ultimately justified from multiple angles.
At the time, it was a bit of a gamble. Moving Gilman out of the secondary meant an enhanced role for rookie R.J. Mickens. Oweh, at the time, had zero sacks and just 10 tackles across five games in Baltimore.
But it paid tremendous dividends. Mickens quickly stepped into his new responsibilities, taking on rotational duties alongside Tony Jefferson and Elijah Molden. Oweh had an incredible campaign once he came to Los Angeles, posting 7.5 sacks across 12 games. Although he departed in free agency, his hefty contract with the Washington Commanders could yield the Chargers a third-round compensatory pick in next year's Draft.
Gilman was likely always going to be allowed to walk in free agency, anyways.
Now, though, Gilman could be poised to play a major role for his new team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Chiefs expert Matt Conner, writing for Arrowhead Addict, made the case that Gilman's presence in the secondary could be a major boon for star rookie Mansoor Delane.
"For a rookie like Delane, who's about to be tasked with CB1 snaps in a high-stakes scheme at the sport's highest level, Gilman is the right kind of veteran to have around. The Chiefs missed that sort of presence a year ago after letting Justin Reid leave to the New Orleans Saints on a three-year deal in free agency. It was the team's first year without a veteran safety leading the secondary since Spagnuolo arrived in 2019 and Tyrann Mathieu was signed to be his cornerstone." Matt Conner, Arrowhead Addict
Alohi Gilman could prove to be a major factor in a Chiefs turnaround
The Chiefs could be poised for an offensive resurgence this season. They added the reigning Super Bowl MVP in Kenneth Walker III, and Patrick Mahomes seems to be on pace for a Week 1 return. There's obviously room for fluctuation there. But the real questions center around their defense.
This offseason, Kansas City lost virtually the entirety of their secondary from 2025. They traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, with whom Jaylen Watson also signed in free agency. Safety Bryan Cook signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
When the Chiefs traded up to nab Delane at sixth overall, it wasn't simply a value move. It was a move to fill a desperate need.
Delane has all the traits to be a star, but there's a wide gulf between the floor and ceiling of Kansas City's secondary. Nohl Williams, who is projected to start at corner alongside Delane, saw just 44% of the team's defensive snaps last season as a rookie. Kaiir Elam and Kader Kohou, who were also added in free agency, both also have significant questions surrounding them.
Gilman, as the most-tenured member of this room, could be who it all hinges on. He struggled last season between the Chargers and the Ravens to prevent explosive plays, but he's solid and dependable in the normal routines of coverage.
Chargers fans know that Gilman might not be the one to count on as a stabilizing presence in a shaky secondary. It's the corner, though, that the Chiefs have backed themselves into, and they will hope that Gilman can escape some of the struggles that plagued him in Los Angeles.
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