The LA Chargers made their first move of the offseason on Thursday, re-signing standout safety Elijah Molden weeks before free agency begins. Los Angeles traded for Molden right before the start of the 2024 season and he ended up being one of the most impactful players on defense for the Bolts.
Every Chargers fan wanted Molden back because of how imperative he is to the team's safety rotation. With Molden and Alohi Gilman serving as the two primary deep safeties, Derwin James has been freed up to play nickel corner, where he thrived and earned another All-Pro nod in 2024.
With ample financial resources this offseason, the Chargers could have given any contract to Molden and fans would be fine with it. He was so impactful to the team that a slight overpay would not have been an issue at all for the Bolts.
However, the Chargers did not overpay at all. In fact, Molden's contract checks in at a reasonable price that is less than what most fans would have expected him to get.
#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
Elijah Molden's contract details are gold for the Chargers
The Chargers locking Molden up for three years at only $6.25 million per year is a blessing for the team. Not only did the Chargers re-sign him at a reasonable price but the team locked him up for three seasons during what should be his prime.
Molden's $6.25 million annual average salary ranks 26th among safeties currently signed. That is great value for someone who is better than the 26th best safety in the league.
It was unclear if Molden would get a multi-year deal after his late-season injury in 2024. By offering Molden a multi-year deal, the Chargers are showing faith in his recovery and his future with the team. The injury may have even been an accelerant for the deal, as Molden likely wanted to lock up any multi-year deal he could coming off injury.
As a result, the Chargers got a hometown discount that won't have any real implications on the salary cap. At a $6.25 million average annual salary, Molden's 2025 cap hit will likely be in the $5 million range. It all depends on how much of his deal is paid out in bonuses.
Additionally, with exactly two full years worth of salary guaranteed, the Chargers will more than likely be able to get out of his deal entirely in the third year if they need to. The hope is the Chargers don't have to do that, but if push comes to shove, this isn't a deal that will restrict the Bolts three years from now.
This is a great contract all-around for the Bolts, making the Molden signing even better in the process.