The Los Angeles Chargers they have one of the best defenses in the NFL this season despite the unit ranking near the bottom of the NFL each of the past three years. General manager Joe Horitz stepped in and made some crucial acquisitions this offseason to help turn the unit around overnight. An incredible trade made in late August has already paid serious dividends, helping transform the Chargers’ secondary into one of the best in the league.

The Chargers trade for Elijah Molden was one of the best in the NFL this year

In late August, the Chargers sent a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for fourth-year defensive back Elijah Molden. The Titans drafted Molden in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he had struggled to become a consistent contributor in their defensive lineup over the first three seasons of his career.

Hortiz and the Chargers bought Molden a bit, sending a future late-round pick to add the young safety/cornerback who still had plenty of upside and potential to unlock. So far this season, Hortiz and company are getting a lot more than they paid for from Molden, as he had a breakout season to establish himself as the Bolts’ top man.

Through eight games this season, Molden has accumulated 34 combined tackles, one fumble recovery, five pass defenses and three interceptions. His 85.3 overall Professional football Focus class ranks fifth in the NFL among 88 qualifying safeties (with Ryan DePaul on X).

The 2024 campaign was easily the best of Molden’s career to date. He is still young and rising at 25 years old. Under new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Molden and many other young Chargers quarterbacks began to break out. With Molden playing out the final year of his rookie deal, he could be working his way to a lucrative extension with Los Angeles in the 2025 offseason.