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.
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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!