The 2025 offseason has unofficially started with coaches and front office personnel huddling in Indianapolis to watch the NFL Combine. For the first time since the end-of-season debriefing, LA Chargers fans got a chance to hear from general manager Joe Hortiz on Tuesday.
Hortiz spoke on a wide array of topics both during his time at the podium and in interviews after his scrum. Chargers fans have already learned that the team may have a surprising starting center in 2025 and that Joey Bosa may not be a cap casualty after all.
Bosa is not the only cut candidate who has a better chance of sticking around in 2025. Hortiz all but confirmed that safety Alohi Gilman will return in 2025 without outright mentioning his name. When speaking about the Elijah Molden re-signing, Hortiz said the following:
Chargers GM Joe Hortiz says the Elijah Molden extension will allow them to continue the three safety rotation they played last year while letting "Derwin be Derwin". pic.twitter.com/iWG6XIYKw9
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) February 25, 2025
Joe Hortiz confirms Alohi Gilman will return to Chargers without mentioning his name
Hortiz lauded Molden and how important he was to the Chargers defense last season. He also spoke about Derwin James and how the re-signing, "allows Derwin to be Derwin."
Gilman is the one safety Hortiz did not mention by name but his comments are the most revealing for the former sixth-round pick. Hortiz specifically mentioned the success the Chargers had running three safeties last season, which all but confirms Gilman will return.
The entire foundation of the three-safety defense is having Gilman and Molden play the two deep safeties with James playing nickel corner. James still logged snaps at deep safety but was freed up with Gilman and Molden at safety.
The Chargers are not going to find a safety to replace Gilman in the starting lineup this offseason. He may have had his struggles last season but quality safeties do not grow on trees. Gilman is still a leader on this defense and has immense value because of the domino effect he has on defense.
Over The Cap named Gilman as a potential cut candidate after his disappointing 2024 season. By cutting Gilman, the Chargers would free up $4.5 million against the cap. If the Chargers needed to trim space to become cap-compliant then cutting Gilman would make sense.
However, it makes no sense for a team that has over $70 million in projected cap space to pinch pennies because a player is coming off a bad season. The Chargers know firsthand how good Gilman can be and that upside is far more valuable than the $4.5 million in extra cap space.
Hortiz knows this and he unintentionally revealed that on Tuesday. Gilman will be back on the Chargers in 2025, and hopefully, he will return to his 2023 form.