Throughout the Jesse Minter era, the Los Angeles Chargers were consistently able to maximize their secondary talent. It was a defining part of their defensive infrastructure, and it led directly to their consecutive top-10 finishes in net yards per passing attempt over the past two seasons.
The hope, obviously, is that this trend continues under Chris O'Leary. While there are certainly some concerns about schematic continuity, the right pieces are in place for this to happen. DBs coach Steve Clinkscale is still present, even after getting some consideration for head coaching jobs this offseason, and much of the secondary talent— outside of Benjamin St-Juste— is still on the roster.
Importantly, the man behind bringing this talent to the organization, general manager Joe Hortiz, is still swinging deals. During Hortiz's tenure in Los Angeles, the team has definitely had its failings. But Hortiz has already pulled off an impressive number of savvy moves during his time on the job.
As we prepare for training camp, much of the focus will be on the moves the Chargers made this offseason, and rightfully so. But a trade that was one of Hortiz's first major moves in Los Angeles could actually be the most impactful in 2026.
The Elijah Molden trade has already paid massive dividends for the team. As Molden enters training camp fully healthy, it could pay even greater profits in 2026.
The Elijah Molden trade could somehow continue to get better this season
Molden, who was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, came into the league as a versatile defensive back, taking on a part-time starting role as a slot corner and box safety in Tennessee's defensive scheme.
But when the Titans reshaped their secondary prior to 2024, Hortiz was able to snag Molden in exchange for just a seventh-round. That pick ultimately ended up in the hands of the Miami Dolphins, who selected edge rusher Max Llewellyn at 238th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Since then, Molden has signed a three-year, $18.5 million extension, and it's difficult to overstate how vastly he's outperformed his salary thus far. He has his inconsistencies in coverage, but his ability to operate consistently as a deep safety has freed Derwin James to take on the nickel/dime, free-roaming role that was the catalyst for the Chargers' defensive success under Minter.
Molden's tenure in Los Angeles has been diminished somewhat by injuries, however. He suffered a number of injuries near the end of 2024 that delayed his start to the 2025 campaign. Molden never seemed to fully find his footing last season, even though we was still performing at a high level in coverage. Now, though, Molden is prepared to enter training camp fully healthy, and this has a chance to be his first full season with the team in terms of availability and schematic continuity.
Ultimately, Molden has a chance to secure himself a hefty extension when he comes due after 2027. But as of now, he still has two years and just $15 million remaining on his back-loaded deal. If he can stay fully available, what was already a steal for the Chargers could become an absolute heist this season.
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