Chiefs add veteran safety Gilman, bring back Thornton in late-night free agency moves
Kansas City shores up the secondary and retains a vertical threat as Brett Veach continued a busy opening to free agency
The Kansas City Chiefs continued an active start to free agency late Monday night, agreeing to terms with safety Alohi Gilman while also bringing back wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.
The Chiefs agreed to a three-year, $24.75 million deal with Gilman, a six-year veteran who spent the early part of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before being traded midseason to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for defensive end Odafe Oweh.
Gilman played collegiately at Navy before transferring to Notre Dame and has quietly developed into one of the league’s more reliable coverage safeties.
His signing comes shortly after Kansas City lost safety Bryan Cook to the Cincinnati Bengals, who agreed to a three-year, $40.3 million contract. While Gilman signed for less, he may be the cleaner schematic fit.
Cook spent much of last season playing free safety, logging 473 snaps at the position, though he originally entered the league as a downhill, physical safety.
Gilman, on the other hand, is a natural free safety.
He logged 543 snaps there last season and has primarily played the position throughout his career. That does not mean he lacks versatility. Over six seasons, Gilman has also played 846 snaps in the box and 354 in the slot, giving Kansas City flexibility in its secondary alignments.
Production has followed the versatility. Gilman has averaged more than 53 tackles per season and has five career interceptions. Since 2023, he has posted a 90.1 coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus, ranking sixth among all safeties during that span.
With Cook gone and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson also departing recently, Gilman arrives as a much-needed veteran presence in a secondary undergoing significant change.
As for Thornton, Kansas City also agreed to re-sign the wide receiver to a two-year, $11 million deal, with a maximum value of $14 million.
Thornton is expected to slot in as the Chiefs’ third wide receiver and primary vertical threat behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, barring any additional additions in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The former New England Patriot enjoyed his most productive season with Kansas City in 2025, finishing with a career-high 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Thornton burst onto the scene early in the season, particularly during Rice’s six-game suspension. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes targeted him frequently downfield, with Thornton recording 272 receiving yards in the first six games alone.
He was targeted 25 times during that stretch but saw a significant dip in usage once Rice returned, drawing just 12 targets over the final eight games.
Still, Thornton’s big-play ability was evident throughout the season. He finished among the league’s most dangerous deep threats, averaging 23.1 yards per reception.
The contract is far from a blockbuster, but it signals that the Chiefs still believe there is more to unlock in Thornton’s skillset.
If head coach Andy Reid can find a way to consistently weaponize his speed within the offense, Kansas City’s offense could become more explosive, especially after adding a home run-hitting running back on day one as well.
Earlier in the day, Kansas City agreed to terms with running back Kenneth Walker on a three-year, $43.05 million deal.
They are also bringing back tight end Travis Kelce on a one-year, $12 million contract and are signing defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga to a three-year, $21 million deal.