A day after setting their initial 53-man roster, the Los Angeles Chargers have traded for Tennessee Titans cornerback Elijah Molden. Details of the trade indicate that the Chargers offered the Titans compensation for their late-round draft pick.
It’s an aggressive move by the Chargers, who retained six cornerbacks on their 53-man roster. Molden, a starter in 2023, was a third-round pick by the Titans out of Washington in 2021. He now joins a secondary that will face the league’s top quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, twice a year.
Sources: The #Titans finalize trade of DB Elijah Molden to the #Chargers in exchange for compensation for a last-minute draft pick.
A starter for most of last season, Molden gets another start and LAC benefits from renewed secondary help. pic.twitter.com/rmAbQ6BZbm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2024
In 33 career games with the Titans, Molden has 140 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Statistically, Molden has returned three of his four fumble recoveries for touchdowns. At just 25 years old, the Chargers see him in the prime of his career.
Chargers have strong connection to former Titans this year
When Jim Harbaugh became head coach of the Chargers, he recruited many former players from the Baltimore Ravens, the team his brother coaches for. JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Bradley Bozeman and Ben Mason were all recruited.
But now, on the defensive side, the team has added four former Titans: Teair Tart, Kristian Fulton, Bud Dupree and now Molden. One has to wonder if the coaching staff noticed something there, because it seems too much to be a coincidence.
The Chargers will now have to release a player from the 53-man roster to make room for Molden, while also releasing a player to make room for Hassan Haskins, who was claimed off waivers earlier in the day. JT Woods and Jaret Patterson appear to be good options at that level.
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