Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Derwin James is going into his ninth season with the team in 2026.
James has achieved a lot in his career with the Chargers after being the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has been an All-Pro in three of the last four seasons, which explains why he is the highest-ranked Charger on Pro Football Network’s top 100 players list.
“Derwin James Jr. comes in as the top-ranked safety on the PFN Top 100 this year, and it’s easy to see why. Most notably, he led
the NFL with an 88.5 PFN SAF Impact Score last season. His 87.0 coverage score was the best among all safeties in 2025, and his 86.0 score in run support was the third-best at the position,” PFN contributor Jacob Infante wrote.
“… James is a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. Despite injury concerns earlier in his time with the Chargers, he’s missed just eight games over the last five years and is coming off a three-interception season in 2025, which ties for the most he’s had in a single season.”
James turns 30 next month, which is often a sign that other players are slowing down. That might not be the case with James, who’s coming off arguably his best season of his career.
The knack and instinct James plays with are incredibly necessary for the defense. He has a rare quality about him: he makes his teammates better, not just himself. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to find in the NFL, especially nowadays, but that’s why James is where he is on this list.
BFTB community, do you think James is the best player on the Chargers roster? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
