The four-time All-Pro safety's three-year deal makes James the highest paid player at that position for a second time.
The Los Angeles Chargers have made it a priority for safety Derwin James Jr. to be able to retire as a bolt. For the second time, the Chargers made James the highest-paid safety in NFL history as they made a move to lock up their defensive cornerstone. James and Los Angeles agreed to a three-year, $75.6 million extension with $57.5 million guaranteed. That sets a new standard at the position of $25.2 million per year, besting Kyle Hamilton’s then-record deal with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2025.
The timing of the agreement was significant ahead of OTAs, and it reinforces what Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said this offseason about prioritizing the extension to keep James in LA. The star safety was drafted by the Chargers with their first-round selection in 2018 at No. 17 overall and has been a perennial Pro Bowler outside of the one year he was unhealthy with four All-Pro honors. After that 2023 season, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter deployed James primarily at nickel, and his disruptiveness and short area quickness quickly displayed. James has 7.5 sacks in the last two years since as he’s turned into a formidable pass rusher.
To read more about the record deal and what it signifies for both parties, here is the full story from Chargers Roundtable writer Nic Jennings.
Now, James will be incredibly important as a veteran presence both on and off the field with the departure of Minter to become the Baltimore Ravens head coach. He will be one who first-year DC Chris O’Leary will turn to as they look to keep up their status as one of the more lockdown units in the league. O’Leary was the defensive back coach back in 2024 and knows what he has in James. The deal shows that the Chargers will continue to lean on their gritty defensive identity ahead of their 2026 campaign.
