Los Angeles Chargers' new safety paying immediate dividends

Travis Wakeman

Los Angeles Chargers' new safety paying immediate dividends image

The Los Angeles Chargers seem to have committed highway robbery with a trade that was made shortly after the conclusion of the preseason. 

The Chargers sent a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for safety Elijah Molden, a third-round pick in 2021. At the time, it was a curious decision as the Chargers already had a strong pair of starting safeties and Tony Jefferson had just had a terrific preseason. 

But the Chargers saw something in Molden they had to have and through two games, it looks like a genius move. 

Molden has come along quickly, having to learn the playbook in less than three weeks. He's been thrust into the starting lineup with Alohi Gilman having to miss the Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers and not only did he play well, he thrived. 

Molden was tied for the team lead with seven tackles and he added an interception as well. Once healthy, Gilman can combine with Derwin James and Molden to give the Chargers one of the better safety groups in the entire league. 

All of this for a seventh-round pick? Plus, Molden is only 25 years old. The Chargers' front office gets an A+ for this one so far. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.