The NFL is a fickle business. One year, you are a breakout player on a team that earns a new contract. Very shortly after, you could be entering the last year of his tenure with said team with one foot out the door. That is where LA Chargers safety Alohi Gilman finds himself.
Gilman was a revelation for the Chargers in 2023, prompting the new front office to re-sign him ahead of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, Gilman wasn't quite as productive in Jesse Minter's defense and was also slowed down by injuries.
Other safeties in the defense blossomed in Minter's defense, so much to the point where Gilman was speculated to be a cut candidate this offseason. And while he survived that speculation, his Chargers career likely won't last much longer.
Alohi Gilman is almost certainly entering his last season with the Chargers
The hype around Gilman was replaced by hype around Elijah Molden. The Chargers traded for Molden right before the start of the 2024 season and he turned into one of the most valuable players on the entire roster.
Los Angeles values Molden so much that the team re-signed him to a three-year contract before free agency even began. Keep in mind, Molden is coming off an injured suffered at the end of the season and the Chargers were still willing to give him a three-year deal in an offseason where one and two-year deals were exclusive.
Gilman is entering the final year of the two-year contract he signed last offseason and it is hard to imagine the Chargers re-upping his deal. General manager Joe Hortiz is not someone who is going to pass for past production and Gilman will be entering his age 29 season in 2026.
Derwin James will still be on the roster, Molden will still be on the roster, and 2025 sixth-round pick R.J. Mickens has all the makings of being the next breakout safety. Even that doesn't work out, the safety market is always robust and replacing Gilman (whether it be in the draft or free agency) won't be a hassle.
It's really a lose-lose for Gilman when it comes down to his Chargers future. Either he takes another step back in 2025 and the Bolts decide they don't want to pay for past performance. Or he returns to form and earns a contract the Chargers inevitably won't want to pay him.
The fact that Gilman was legitimately talked about as a cut candidate tells you all you need to know. This will be his last season with the Chargers in 2025 and hopefully, he goes out with a bang.