Report: Chargers 'optimistic' about extension with Derwin James

The 2018 first-round pick earned his second career Pro Bowl nod this past season after finishing with 118 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus was fond of his performance, ranking James ninth among 92 eligible safeties. He was limited to only five games in 2019 before sitting out the 2020 campaign, so it was a positive sign for both the player and organization that he could return to his Pro Bowl status.

His performance was also a positive development for his earning potential. In fact, Fowler tweets that there’s “expectation from some” in the NFL that James will ultimately sign a contract that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Minkah Fitzpatrick paces the position with an $18.2M average annual value, followed by Jamal Adams ($17.5M AAV), Harrison Smith ($16M AAV), Justin Simmons ($15.2M AAV) and then four players making between $14M and $15M.

James will command at least $17M per year, but if he intends to reset the market, he could sign a deal that exceeds $19M per year. The safety franchise tag in 2022 was $12.9M, and even assuming it goes up, there’s little chance that route would satisfy the impending free agent. Of course, it seems unlikely the Chargers would play hard ball with their homegrown player, especially after they ponied up to add defenders Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson this offseason.

We heard last month that the two sides had engaged in preliminary discussions regarding an extension, and it sounds like both sides were hopeful that it’d get done before the start of the regular season. While the Chargers appear to be willing to pay up for James, the player’s injury history slightly complicates negotiations. Besides his injury issues in 2019, James also had offseason shoulder surgery that forced him to miss minicamp, although it sounds like his absence was just precautionary.