Los Angeles Chargers lock up a key piece of their defense after acquiring him in a trade that was an absolute steal
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed safety Elijah Molden to a three-year contract, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the deal is worth $18.75 million with $13.5 million guaranteed. Molden's development was one of the best stories for the Chargers in 2024. They acquired him at the conclusion of the […]
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed safety Elijah Molden to a three-year contract, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the deal is worth $18.75 million with $13.5 million guaranteed.
Molden's development was one of the best stories for the Chargers in 2024. They acquired him at the conclusion of the preseason from the Tennessee Titans for just a 2026 seventh-round pick.
In 15 regular season games with Los Angeles, Molden made 12 starts and recorded 75 total tackles, three interceptions, and seven passes defensed, which were all career highs. He did not allow a single receiving touchdown on the season, and opposing quarterbacks had a lowly 44.8 passer rating when targeting him.
For those efforts, Molden was named Pro Football Focus' most improved Chargers player of 2024, as he earned a 75.6 overall grade from them. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in Week 17 that cost him the rest of the season. That is an injury that typically heals within three months, so he should be ready to for OTAs in May.
Locking up Molden was a no-brainer for L.A. He is still just 25-years-old and is entering the prime of his career. The only potential red flag with him is that he has been a bit injury prone. Not only did his season end prematurely last year, but he also missed most of the 2022 season with a groin injury.
If he can stay healthy, Molden could establish himself as one of the best safeties in the league. If he does, he will set himself up for an even bigger payday after this contract is up as he will still be young at just 28 years old. Until then, he'll be a cornerstone piece for a Chargers secondary that ranked seventh in the NFL against the pass in 2024.
