Elijah

Molden

Molden injured his meniscus in Week 15 against the Buccaneers and missed one game. He returned in Week 17 against the Patriots, only to suffer a season-ending fibula fracture. With the surgery planned for later this month, Molden also said he “expects to be running in the next six weeks.” It is unclear as to whether Molden’s meniscus surgery will be a trim or a full repair. Molden was drafted as a 2021 third-round pick by the Titans but struggled to find his footing while dealing with injuries in his second and third NFL seasons. He thrived as a do-it-all defensive back for the Chargers this season though, notching a career-high three interceptions while tying previous career-highs in total tackles (74) and tackles for loss or no gain (four). Molden is scheduled to hit free agency this offseason but “told the coaching staff he wants to return in 2025.”

Molden played 761 snaps for the Chargers and was excellent in coverage, with a 75.4 PFF coverage grade. Molden was acquired at last cuts from the Titans and proved a prudent snag. This was the final season of his rookie deal. It seems likely that, assuming a full recovery, the nickel will return in Los Angeles if he doesn’t see major interest elsewhere.

Molden suffered a non-contact injury to his knee while backpedaling in the third quarter against the Patriots. He entered the game with a knee injury but played with a brace and now seems to have hurt his other knee. Molden was carted off and likely will not return.

Molden played 671 defensive snaps as a rookie in 2021 before appearing in just two games in his sophomore season. He would rebound in 2023 to the tune of 701 defensive snaps, although he mostly played behind Kristian Fulton when healthy. He’ll get a chance to start over with a new team as he heads to a rebuilding Chargers team lacking in depth in the secondary.

Molden will be out for the first four weeks of the season and Tennessee’s interior corner depth will be tested. They may use Ugo Amadi, or they may bump Roger McCreary or Kristian Fulton inside on passing downs. Tennessee also placed Chance Campbell (knee) on injured reserve.

Molden (5'10/190), a three-year contributor with two consecutive first-team All-PAC 12 finishes, is the 2021 draft class’ premier nickel cornerback. Sometimes college cornerbacks gets projected inside in the NFL due to their size despite playing outside in college, but that is not the case with Molden. The Huskies CB was a legit nickel in college. Molden plays with fantastic leverage in coverage, which is must given his middling speed. He’s also got the smooth hips to keep up in man coverage, as well as the careful eyes and footwork to be a menace in zone coverage. Molden is also a very willing run defender despite his size, which is part of why he makes for such a strong nickel defender. Though not a first-round caliber player, Molden shows shades of former Pittsburgh Steelers nickel Mike Hilton and should be a fit for any system.

Molden clocked a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash. Truthfully, that is not very inspiring for a 5-foot-10, 191-pound slot corner, but it certainly could be worse. What is perhaps more concerning is that Molden did not run the other drills -- the three-cone and short shuttle -- over concerns with his hamstring. Seeing Molden post good numbers in those areas could have done wonders for his stock, so it is a shame he did not get to participate.

Nagy is intrigued not just by Molden’s tape, but also by his potential role in the NFL, noting that the NFL Is “putting (an) increased premium on playmaking nickels.” With the draft just over a month out, though, the 5-foot-10, 191-pounder has largely been locked out of first-round mock draft action. Possible value alert? Nagy thinks so, writing that if Molden remains on the board until Day 2 come late April, “some team is getting an absolute steal.”

Holden could be a gem for team’s looking to diversify their secondary. At 5-foot-10 and 191-pounds, Holden is not the biggest DB out there, but he is a smart, agile player who could function well as an NFL nickel and safety hybrid. Seeing as the NFL is constantly moving towards tighter offensive formations and nickels need to really be able to cover the crossers and in-breakers that often come from those looks, Holden is a good fit for the modern game. Look for Holden to be one of the tougher DBs to work against in 1-on-1’s down in Mobile.

“I think [Molden’s] probably a safety when we’re in base, and then we’re gonna move him down and he’s going to play in the nickel,” Duffy explained, speaking from the vantage point of how he might use the Washington standout. The analyst is keen on the 5-foot-10, 191-pounder’s toughness and instincts, but doesn’t necessarily view him as a true outside cornerback. Duffy noted that he very nearly grouped Molden in with the safety class when earlier previewing the Pac-12. Molden posted PFF’s second-highest coverage grade last season, trailing only Derek Stingley of LSU.