Chiefs GM Brett Veach discusses two key offseason defensive signings

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach recently held a pre-draft press conference via Zoom. He addressed several questions heading into next week, including the offseason free agent signings of two key defensive standouts.

“Alohi (Gilman), over the years, having a Tyrann Mathieu and then having a Justin Reid. Just having a cerebral player there that sees the field, can be a leader back there and get everyone lined up,” said Veach, “We lost Bryan Cook too, we wanted to make sure that - and look, it doesn’t mean we won’t add if we can get a similar player that has those leadership capabilities back there. Certainly, didn’t want to go through an offseason and come away after the draft and not have a player like that. He (Gilman) fits that mold, and when you had success, as I mentioned, you had a guy like The Badger, and you had a guy like Justin Reid back there, Alohi (Gilman) fits that bill.”

Kansas City signed Gilman on a three-year, $24.75 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. In 2025, Gilman started all 17 games he played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, recording 90 tackles.

“When you come into the offseason and you look at our defensive line, you have DT Chris Jones and DT Omarr Norman-Lott who’s coming off an injury, I still think that we need two more,” said Veach, “(Khyiris) Tonga was a guy that had a great season and he gives us a little bit more of an athletic nose that does have some pass rush ability, but even with the addition of Tonga, I still that that we’re a few short there, so that will certainly be a definite position of need for us entering next week.”