Chargers safety Derwin James is entering the final year of the four-year extension he signed in August 2022, a deal that set a new benchmark for safeties at the time. As ESPN’s Kris Rhim writes, James will “almost certainly” be seeking a new contract before training camp begins this summer.
Given James’ importance to the organization and continued strong performance, Rhim believes player and team will be able to reach an agreement. The one sticking point, naturally, could be the dollar amount, as Rhim suggests it might take another record-setting contract to secure James’ services for the foreseeable future. As of now, the Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton is the pacesetter for safeties in terms of total value ($100.4MM), average annual value ($25.1MM), and full guarantees ($48.02MM).
Hamilton, however, is about 4.5 years younger than James (who will turn 30 in August), and there is a sizable gap between Hamilton’s AAV and those enjoyed by Kerby Joseph and Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.25MM and $21.03MM, respectively). As such, there could be room for the Chargers and James to find common ground on an accord that keeps the star defender below Hamilton in the most important contractual metrics while placing him above all of his other peers.
At the time James signed his current deal — which came after a training camp “hold-in” — his health concerns were still a relatively fresh memory. An August 2019 stress fracture in James’ right foot shelved him for much of that season, and a meniscus injury during training camp in 2020 ended up sidelining the former first-rounder for the entirety of that campaign. But over the last five seasons, four of which ended with Pro Bowl acclaim, James has played in no fewer than 14 regular season contests and has suited up for 16 games in each of the last three years.
James’ improved injury history could help facilitate a deal, and his play largely speaks for itself. The Florida State alum consistently lands near the top of the pack in terms of Pro Football Focus’ safety evaluations (aside from a 2023 blip), and he finished as PFF’s ninth-best safety in both 2024 and 2025. He limited opposing passers to quarterback ratings of 74.2 and 59.6, respectively, in those two seasons, and he routinely records tackle figures at or near triple digits. He tallied three interceptions in 2025, his highest total since his rookie slate in 2018.
One thing that has generally eluded James is playoff success. The Chargers won their first postseason contest in ‘18 but have failed to record a playoff victory since then. If the Bolts do reverse that trend in the upcoming seasons, James likely will be a big reason why.