Los Angeles Chargers Star Derwin James Agrees To $76.4 Million Deal, Becomes Nfl’s Highest-paid Safety, Source Says

Los Angeles Chargers Star Derwin James Agrees To $76.4 Million Deal, Becomes NFL’s Highest-paid Safety, Source Says

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers and All-Pro safety Derwin James have agreed to terms of a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The deal has an average annual value of $19.13 million and resets the safety market, making James the highest-paid safety in NFL history, a source told Schefter.

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The Chargers announced Wednesday that James had signed a multiyear contract extension, but did not disclose the terms.

James accepted the deal a day after Chargers coach Brandon Staley described the star safety as an “impact player” and the “heartbeat of our defense.”

“When I see him, I think, ‘That’s a defensive back,’ because he can play anywhere,” Staley said Tuesday. “He can play anywhere from safety, he can be cornerback. … He can rush the quarterback and have an impact like blitzes, he can have an impact on man-to-man coverage, and then he can have an impact on the zone defense, whether he’s playing high or low, and he calls our signals and the heartbeat of our defense.”

James reported to training camp on July 26, but was “on hold” for the past three weeks, missing 14 practices as contract negotiations continued. However, he participated in team runs and individual agility drills, while maintaining a constant presence among his teammates on the bench.

Staley expressed confidence that James would be physically ready to participate in football activities when the deal is done, saying “there is no one who is more proud of his performance and his ability to be fit, mentally and physically, to do the I work at a higher level than him.”

The 26-year-old James is a key playmaker in a defense that has raised expectations this season after a significant upgrade in personnel.

The Chargers acquired outside linebacker Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears to form a pass-rushing duo with Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa, signed Pro Bowl cornerback JC Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million deal in free agency and also added defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox.

With James’ extension, the Chargers ensure they have several of the best defensive players in the NFL under contract for the foreseeable future, including Mack, Bosa and Jackson.

The 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft, James was entering the fifth and final season of his rookie deal and was scheduled to earn just over $9 million. He has 257 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five interceptions and three forced fumbles in his career.

James earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition as a rookie before playing just five games in 2019 due to a foot injury. He also missed the entire 2020 season due to a knee injury.

In 15 games last season, James recorded 117 tackles (tied for No. 3 in the NFL among all defensive backs), intercepted two passes, three forced fumbles and had two sacks.

Following an appearance in his second Pro Bowl in February, James underwent labral surgery on his left shoulder. A week before reporting to training camp, James told ESPN that he felt healthy.

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