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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Derwin James Jr. #3 of the Los Angeles Chargers defends in coverage during the first quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday afternoon, the Chargers announced that veteran safety Derwin James was signed to a three-year, $75.6 million contract extension that once again makes him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. The deal also includes $57.5 million in guaranteed money and will tie James to the Chargers through the 2020 season.
James is coming off his second consecutive season where he was named a Second-Team All-Pro as a slot defender. Ever since the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh and then-defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, James has enjoyed a rejuvenated stretch of his career that’s put him squarely back in the conversation as the best player at his position.
Over the last two seasons, James has collected 187 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 14 pass breakups, four interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery while playing 32 of the possible 34 regular season games in that stretch. In 2025, James was Pro Football Focus’ ninth-rated safety and posted a coverage grade of of 83.7, good for fifth among qualifying safeties.
In all, since joining the Chargers as the team’s first-round pick in 2018, James has been named First-Team All-Pro once (2018) and Second-Team All-Pro four times (2018, 2022, 2024, 2025). His first team nod came at safety while his second-team honor that same year came as a general defensive back. In 2022, he was named as a safety before being recognized as a slot defender the past two seasons.
Congrats to James on his deal! Here’s to his best year yet!
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