Grading the signing: Alohi Gilman looks like Kansas City Chiefs’ perfect Bryan Cook replacement, but has a few glaring concerns
While new Chiefs S Alohi Gilman looks like the perfect Bryan Cook replacement, there are a few causes for concern.
The Kansas City Chiefs lost a lot of manpower in the secondary during the 2026 NFL free agency period, including starting free safety Bryan Cook.
When Cook signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs acted quickly to replace him, agreeing to terms with former Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens S Alohi Gilman on a three-year deal. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back entered the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, he’s developed into a solid starter at deep safety over his six seasons in the league. When he was traded to Baltimore in 2025, he really helped bring out the best in Kyle Hamilton, and the hope in Kansas City is that the 29-year-old can help stabilize and elevate some young pieces around him.
As for what they’re gaining, Gilman’s game compares favorably to Cook’s, but there are at least a few concerns.
Alohi Gilman looks like the perfect Bryan Cook replacement, but has some glaring differences
If you put their numbers side-by-side over the past four years, they look very similar, save for a few glaring differences. As a coverage player, Gilman has been virtually the same player as Cook during that time span, though he’s got a better nose for breaking up passes and hasn’t allowed as many touchdowns as the closest defender in coverage. Where he really differs is in his discipline and tackling ability.
| Player | Bryan Cook | Alohi Gilman |
| Targets | 110 | 118 |
| Receptions allowed | 74 | 77 |
| Stops | 42 | 54 |
| Interceptions | 4 | 4 |
| TFLs | 4 | 4 |
| Sacks | 1 | 1 |
| PBUs | 9 | 19 |
| Touchdowns allowed | 11 | 8 |
| Missed tackles | 22 | 44 |
| Penalties | 3 | 10 |
While Gilman has 12 more defensive stops than Cook, he also has double the number of missed tackles. If you take a look at the tape, you’ll find he’s prone to taking bad angles and arm-tackling at times. Gilman also has seven more penalties than Cook, though two of Gilman’s were dismissed or offsetting.
The hope here is that Gilman can cut down on missed tackles and clean up his penalties under the tutelage of Steve Spagnuolo, Dave Merritt, and Andre Curtis.
Alohi Gilman’s injury history is also something the Chiefs should be wary of
While Gilman has actually played more snaps compared to Cook over the past four seasons, his injury history is something to keep in mind. He’s not had any major injuries, but he’s had a laundry list of ticky-tacky injuries that have kept him sidelined for one or more games in the past. Last season was his first of six seasons in which he appeared and started in all 17 games. In 2024, Gilman missed five games after being placed on IR with a hamstring injury. In 2023, he missed three games with a heel injury. He missed five weeks in 2021 with a quad injury. He’s also missed time with an ankle sprain in 2021.
Overall, I get the vision here. This signing could be a grand slam for the Chiefs as a discounted Bryan Cook in the secondary. But with the discount, you’re also getting a few concerns regarding missed tackles, penalties, and injuries.
GRADE: B-
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