Chargers News: Bolts Safety Comments on the Potential Of Being Released

Who will the Bolts retain this offseason?

Arguably one of the biggest offseasons in Los Angeles Chargers franchise history is on the horizon. 

The Bolts may only have one shot left to put the right front office, coaching staff, and players around star quarterback Justin Herbert, as after failing to do so in the 2021 offseason, the Bolts are staring down yet another few years of mediocrity with the wrong moves. 

Part of what makes this offseason so significant, aside from the obvious (coaching/GM vacancies) is the sheer amount of free agents that the Bolts are set to have. 

20 is the number to watch here, as the only notable players that are locks to stick around are Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Rashawn Slater, and Tuli Tuipulotu. 

Safety Alohi Gilman is one of the 20 upcoming free agents, and it's almost impossible for a player like him to know what his status is going to be entering the offseason, seeing as the Chargers don't even have their GM situation figured out. 

Amidst the uncertainty, here's what he had to say, per Jeff Miller of The Los Angeles Times:

“That’s the business we signed up for,” Gilman said. “It’s a little nuts, yeah, but we all know this is part of the deal. It’s a risky business, I guess you could say.”

Gilman has spent all of his 4 NFL seasons with the Bolts after being selected in Round 6 of the 2020 draft out of Notre Dame. In the 2023 season, he's had a Pro Football Focus grade of 81.1, which is solid. 

If I had to guess, I'd say Gilman sticks around. He's been a solid contributor for the team and can have his 5th-year option extended this offseason to give him a trial run in a new system with new coaching.