Elijah Molden will now make more per year on average than fellow starting safety Alohi Gilman, who will be a free agent in 2026.
On Thursday night, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on the Chargers agreeing to terms with safety Elijah Molden on a new three-year contract extension that will keep him in Los Angeles through the 2027 season. The deal rewards Molden for a standout season in his first year with the Chargers after being traded from the Titans for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
On Monday morning, we got the official numbers on the deal, as well. Per multiple sources, Molden’s deal is worth $18.75 million over the three years with $13.5 million guaranteed. That’s an average of $6.25 million per year, which is higher than the contract given to fellow starting safety Alohi Gilman ($5.062 million/yr) prior to the 2024 season.
#Chargers’ deal with @ElijahMolden24 is for three years, $18.75M with $13.5M guaranteed. Molden, son of former Charger CB Alex Molden, was acquired via trade prior to 2024 season from Tennessee and played his way into a payday. Deal done by @cjlaboy and @dhendrickson41 of… pic.twitter.com/DWxCj65ATl
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 21, 2025
Knowing this, it makes one wonder if this deal tells us Gilman’s eventual future with the Chargers when he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. The Chargers being able to employ three quality safeties in Jesse Minter’s defense have been extremely valuable as it has allowed Derwin James to play mainly at the second level. If Gilman isn’t retained following the end of his second contract, the Chargers will be pressed to find a replacement, especially seeing as veteran Tony Jefferson isn’t getting any younger.
Either way, at least for one more season, the Chargers will get to deploy one of the league’s best safety groups in 2025.