'I’m the best safety.' Derwin James is chasing something more | Exclusive
EL SEGUNDO, CA - Three multi-year contracts with a single team is rare in today's NFL. Becoming the highest-paid player at a position twice is even more of an oddity. Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is cognizant he's in rarefied air.
I started playing this game at four years old in the yard for fun. I never thought (and) I could have never imagined I would be paid a third time paid like this," James told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview. But I'm still working, man. I'm still hungry, man, and I'm not satisfied."
The Chargers signed James to a third contract in May, a three-year, $75.6 million extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid safety for the second time in his career. The nine-year veteran's become one of the preeminent safeties in the NFL since the Chargers drafted him 17th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He's a five-time All-Pro selection, including a first-team All-Pro nod in 2018, and a five-time Pro Bowler.
James has been a versatile defensive force on the Chargers despite multiple regime and roster changes. Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers third full-time head coach since James was drafted, tabbed James the best safety he's ever seen.
I've called him the best safety I've ever seen in the history of the National Football League. I don't think I'm going out on a limb," Harbaugh said of James last year. He is one of the most incredible players I've ever watched."
'Superman out there'James is part of a new evolution of safeties who play all over the field. This versatile group of safeties includes Baltimore's Kyle Hamilton, Seattle's NickEmmanwori and James, who line up at various spots on the gridiron on any given snap. According to Pro Football Focus, James was tracked at box safety, free safety, slot corner, wide corner and even the defensive line last year. Harbaugh labeled James as a six-tool" player.
He can cover (and) he can play any position in the in the secondary. I guess what jumps out the most is he can play nickel, he can play dime backer, he could play corner, he could play in the deep half, he can play in the deep middle (and) he can blitz," Harbaugh said of James last season. "You have to compare him to Willie Mays at that point. He's a five-tool, six-tool secondary player. It's incredible what he can do. He does it all. It's like Superman when he puts on the armor, when he puts on that suit and wears that number three. He's donning the cap. He's a Superman out there."
The Willie Mays and Superman comparisons are apropos considering the Chargers have labeled James the heart and soul" of their defense.
James has amassed 684 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his career, making him one sack shy of being just the third NFL player to reach 600 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 20 sacks within the first 100 games of a career since the data was tracked in 2008. He's produced the most quarterback pressures (65) and sacks (15.5) among defensive backs over the last five seasons, according to NFL Research.
I'm just trying to work my butt off every day to uplift that," James said of Harbaugh's praise. To make people like him right. That makes those type of comments where people are not scratching their head, like, Man, what did he say? Is he crazy?' I want to be able to put the pressure on myself to be able to go out there and perform and consider myself one of the greats."
James anchored the Chargers' defense that finished top five in total defense last year and was No. 1 in scoring defense in 2024.
What he's done the last couple years, he's been an all-pro slot corner, nickel, however you want to say it," Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary said. You want 11 Derwin James. If you're going to put a scale to what he's best at, he's the best at that, blitzing, owning the perimeter, he's to me the best in the world at doing that."
'I'm the best safety'James hopes to be a Chargers for life and yearns to be considered one of the greats. He already believes he's the top player at his position.
I don't take the field not feeling like I'm the best safety in the NFL," James said.
James, who turns 30 in August, knows what eludes him thus far is team success. He's been part of just one playoff win as a Charger.
The Chargers have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons while earning playoff berths and have made three postseason appearances since 2022. But an epic 27-point meltdown, a four-interception performance from Justin Herbert and an offensive no-show have marred the Chargers' three most recent playoff exits in the wild-card round.
Once we get past that first round, I feel like the sky gonna be the limit for us," James said. We're gonna roll, man. I feel like every year this team is in a prime position, an 11 or 12-win team."
Los Angeles is a championship-driven city spoiled by titles. The Dodgers have nine World Series titles and are chasing a three-peat, the Lakers have 17 championship banners, including one in 2020, while the Rams won Super Bowl 56 and are a prohibitive favorite to capture Super Bowl 61.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are one of 12 teams to have never won a Super Bowl.
That's why James enters his ninth season with the Chargers focused on establishing a championship culture and assisting the franchise on a mission to get to the pinnacle of the sport.
If I could win the Super Bowl," James said. I've been paid three times, I made five Pro Bowls, five All-Pros. I've done all the single accolade things, I feel. But the team goal. ...This team has never won a Super Bowl."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: 'I'm the best safety.' Derwin James is chasing something more | Exclusive