LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Chargers signed safety Elijah Molden to a multiyear contract, the team announced Thursday.
The deal is a three-year, $18.75M contract with $13.5M guaranteed, Molden’s agents CJ Laboy and Doug Hendrickson told ESPN Adam Schefter.
The Chargers traded for Molden ahead of Week 1, sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to Tennessee. He quickly emerged as one of the most essential pieces of L.A.’s defense, which finished first in points allowed per game. Molden ranked second among Chargers defensive backs in tackles (72) and interceptions (three).
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It was the best year of Molden’s career and his first as a full-time starter. “This is a place where I kind of revitalized my career,” Molden said in January.
Perhaps Molden’s most crucial role was allowing coordinator Jesse Minter to move safety Derwin James Jr. to nickel, while Molden played deep safety.
Molden’s play allowed James’ to play closer to the line of scrimmage and sparked a career renaissance for James after a down year in 2023. James was named an All-Pro for the first time since his rookie season and made his fourth Pro Bowl.
Molden suffered a season-ending fibula fracture in the Chargers’ win over the New England Patriots in Week 17 and also played through a torn meniscus he suffered in Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At his end-of-season news conference, Molden said that he will not need surgery for the fracture and will be ready for the beginning of offseason activities.
“Give a hat off to [general manager] Joe Hortiz and [assistant general manager] Chad Alexander, the whole pro personnel department for finding Elijah for us,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s come in and been such a great addition.”
