Chargers make Derwin James NFL’s highest-paid safety again With million extension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Chargers have once again made Derwin James Jr. the highest-paid safety in the NFL, agreeing to a three-year, $75.6 million contract extension with the All-Pro defender, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. James’ agent, David Mulugheta, confirmed the agreement Tuesday. The deal includes $57.5 million guaranteed and gives James an average annual salary of $25.2 million, resetting the safety market for the second time in his career.
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James, 29, was entering the final season of the four-year extension he signed with the Chargers in 2022, a contract that also briefly made him the league’s highest-paid safety. That deal was worth $76.4 million over four years and cemented him as one of the franchise’s foundational players.
Since being selected 17th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State, James has developed into one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers. James recorded 94 total tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups during the 2025 season while earning his fifth Pro Bowl selection and fourth All-Pro honor.
Chargers double down on defensive leader
Over his career, James has totaled 684 tackles, 19 sacks, 12 interceptions and 46 passes defended across 98 games, showcasing his versatility as both a coverage safety and pass rusher. His ability to impact multiple areas of the game has made him one of the cornerstones of the Chargers’ defense for nearly a decade.
After a difficult 2023 campaign slowed by injuries and inconsistency, James rebounded under former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, thriving in a hybrid nickel role that maximized his aggressiveness near the line of scrimmage. James produced 7.5 sacks over the past two seasons, the most productive pass-rushing stretch of his NFL career.
The extension also signals the Chargers’ continued commitment to building around a defense expected to remain among the NFL’s best under coach Jim Harbaugh. As the organization begins organized team activities, James remains firmly positioned as the emotional leader and centerpiece of Los Angeles’ defense heading into the 2026 season.
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