The excitement around Los Angeles Chargers Derwin James Jr. was brewing all offseason — and by the end of 2024, he delivered one of his finest professional seasons to date. Named a Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, James thrived in Year 1 of Jesse Minter’s defense, finishing with career-highs in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (5.5). He was also second on the team in total tackles, continued his leadership in the locker room, and, once again, proved he can be deployed in nearly any role on the field.
James played 385 snaps at slot corner, 305 in the box, and another 250 at free safety, per PFF. That kind of positional versatility is a rarity — and under Minter’s aggressive, multiple-look scheme, it was finally put to full use. “He’s willing to line up anywhere we ask and attack it with a crazy amount of focus and detail and competitiveness and spirit,” Minter said. “To me, he’s like the head of the snake. He drives everything with his mindset.”
Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James Not Elite
But as always, there’s skepticism from certain corners of the NFL. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that a veteran AFC personnel staffer downplayed James’ elite status, calling him a “choosy tackler” with “average athletic tools.” The implication? James plays safe, and his impact is inflated by hype.
“People talked about him like he was Ed Reed early in his career, and I’d say while he’s always been a good player, I’ve never really seen him as an elite guy year to year,” a veteran AFC personnel staffer said. “Average athletic tools, choosy tackler.”
Let’s be clear: that’s nonsense.
Derwin James has been one of the most physically dominant and mentally sharp safeties in the NFL when healthy. He’s not only one of the league’s most versatile defenders — he’s also one of its most reliable. Since entering the NFL in 2018, James has lined up everywhere from edge rusher to deep safety, constantly evolving to match the Chargers’ needs. In 2024, that meant returning to the line of scrimmage more often, where he led all defensive backs in sacks.
“He’s so disruptive around the ball and physical that you have to know where he is at all times,” an NFC scout told Fowler. “He showed what he can do when healthy and put in positions to affect the ball.”
Even in his so-called “down year” in 2023, James was still ranked 7th among all safeties by league execs. In 2024, he climbed to No. 6 — ahead of stars like Antoine Winfield Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick. That kind of respect from league insiders isn’t handed out lightly.
The Chargers’ defense as a whole benefited from James’ presence. Young standouts like Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart stepped into starting roles, with Still leading the team in interceptions. Daiyan Henley, the second-year linebacker, emerged as a high-volume tackler. James, serving as a captain and vocal leader, was instrumental in helping those younger players adjust and thrive. Safeties coach Chris O’Leary called him “elite” in every way — as a player, person, and competitor.
James’ 2024 season also came with top-10 PFF grades in overall defense (80.8), run defense (87.9), and pass rush (75.2), and he ranked top five among safeties in several impact categories. Beyond the stats, though, James was again the emotional core of the team. In the Chargers’ defensive room, he’s not just a player — he’s a tone-setter, a communicator, and often the most trusted decision-maker on the field.
With the arrival of new safeties coach Adam Fuller and continued growth under Minter’s system, James could be in for an even more dominant 2025. “He hasn’t even reached his ceiling,” Fuller said this offseason. “And the greatest thing is, he wants it more than anybody.”
The skepticism will likely always linger for some. But Derwin James doesn’t need to answer every critic. He just needs to keep doing what he does best — disrupting, leading, and setting the standard for what a modern safety should be.
And if 2024 was any indication, the best might still be ahead.
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