Los Angeles Chargers General Manager, Joe Hortiz has been outstanding thus far throughout his tenure with the Chargers, however, there is one stain on his free-agent signee list.
Chargers Safety Alohi Gilman has been an outstanding player throughout his time with the Chargers, working from a sixth-round selection to a starter to being named the PFF All-Breakout team in 2023. Hortiz had the opportunity to re-sign this breakout star for a low price and opted to do so like any smart general manager would.
However, the play of Gilman thus far in the 2024 season has shown to be extremely lackluster. A benching could be warranted soon.
Chargers 10 Million Dollar Free Agent Needs to Be Benched
Alohi Gilman’s 2024 Season
If you told the Chargers front office in the offseason that Alohi Gilman, a player who has been ascending since his arrival is going to be the disappointment of the 2024 Chargers defense, they would think you are crazy.
In a PFF article from the offseason describing Gilman as an underrated free agent, they said “Gilman was targeted 35 times, tied for only the 37th most among safeties, yet the eight incompletions he forced were tied for the fourth most.”
Alohi Gilman picks off Allen on the deep ball!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/USUxKeGErM— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
Gilman was thought to be a great fit in the Jesse Minter defense, but he has been a liability in coverage in 2024.
Gilman, known for his instincts, has been off his game, being very late to track the deep ball. Also known as a sure tackler, he has not been great there either. His PFF grade reflects this with a 37.5 overall PFF grade, a 36.5 coverage grade, and a 54.0 tackling grade.
Even when he had similar struggles last season, he would make up for it with immense plays on the football. Whether it was punching out the ball or intercepting quarterbacks, he would constantly force turnovers.
Positively it is only mid-season and there has been a lot of damage done to the secondary. Gilman can turn it around and start performing like how we know he can. The issue is with benching Gilman is that he would still play a key role, and you would still be relying on him, just in a smaller sample size.
Who Would Step Up?
The main driving force behind the idea to bench Alohi Gilman is the player who is playing absurdly well behind him. The Chargers’ unsung hero of 2024, Elijah Molden. The former Titan, Molden has been a complete ball hawk in his role as the third safety.
Even with two interceptions being overturned for issues out of his control last week against the New Orleans Saints, Molden still has two on the season. Molden has an 83.2 coverage grade with an 87.8 PFF grade overall, ranking fourth out of all safeties with 20% of team snaps played. There is no reason to not have Molden on the field as he’s producing at such a high level.
It would be common sense to allow Molden, who is playing great to replace Gilman who has not.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
