The Ravens’ offseason has already been a wild ride, but one of the more interesting ripple effects may show up in Kansas City.
Baltimore moved on from safety Alohi Gilman after a short stint that helped stabilize a defense that was, by the source’s description, “absolutely horrendous” at times in 2025. The Ravens were able to live with his limitations because he was never asked to be the centerpiece. He fit as depth in a safety group that included Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, and Baltimore also appears to have improved this offseason with the addition of Jaylinn Hawkins.
Kansas City, though, is betting bigger. The Chiefs signed Gilman to a three-year, $24.75 million contract, and that deal could end up carrying more risk than reward if he’s asked to do too much too soon.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton sees plenty of warning signs. As he wrote:
“In four out of six seasons, Gilman has allowed a passer rating of 104 or higher. In all but one campaign, he's missed 11 percent of his tackle attempts. If the coaching staff can't rely on him in coverage or run support, expect a quick hook for a backup.”
Those issues showed up in Baltimore, even if the overall results were better than the eye test suggested. Gilman’s value came more from communication and football IQ than from making plays in space, and coverage plus open-field tackling were not his calling cards.
That’s where the Chiefs’ situation gets tricky. They traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, leaving a secondary that already has a lot of uncertainty around it. If Gilman is pushed into a starter’s role and expected to lead, the margin for error gets thin fast.
Maybe Steve Spagnuolo can coax more out of him. He’s one of the NFL’s most respected defensive coordinators, and Kansas City is clearly hoping that coaching can cover some of the flaws. But on paper, this looks like a move that could blow up in the Chiefs’ face.
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Still, the ranking lands as a jolt for Ravens fans because it reflects more than one uneven year. Jackson has seen this movie before after an injury-hit season, and the broader conversation now is less about whether he belongs among the leagues best and more about how much a healthy stretch can change the way he is viewed again. [Read more 🡒]