Derwin James

Los Angeles Chargers, Safety
Age: 29y-7m-4d (Aug 03, 1996)
Exp: 8 Years
Country: US
College: Florida State
Drafted: Round 1 (#17 overall), 2018
Agent(s): David Mulugheta (Athletes First)
2026 Cap Hit

$24,606,400

2026 Cash

$17,500,000

Career Earnings

$79,773,536

2022-2026 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

Derwin James signed a 4 year, $76,532,000 contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, including $20,532,000 signing bonus, $42,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $19,133,000. In 2026, James will earn a base salary of $14,500,000 and a roster bonus of $3,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $24,606,400 and a dead cap value of $7,106,400.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $76,532,000
Average Salary:
$19,133,000
Signing Bonus:
$20,532,000
GTD at Sign:
$38,584,000
Total GTD:
$42,000,000
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2022 26 $8,158,400 3.92% $24,584,000 $24,584,000 $38,584,000
2023 27 $9,106,400 4.05% $14,000,000 $38,584,000 $33,841,129
2024 28 $19,148,066 7.50% $12,041,666 $50,625,666 $24,734,729
2025 29 $23,865,314 8.55% $16,758,914 $67,384,580 $17,221,714
2026 30 $24,606,400 8.11% $17,500,000 $84,884,580 $7,106,400
2027 31
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Roster Bonus Option Proration Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2022 26 $4,052,000 $4,106,400 - - - $8,158,400 3.92% $38,584,000
2023 27 $2,000,000 $4,106,400 - $3,000,000 - $9,106,400 4.05% $33,841,129
2024 28 $12,041,667 $4,106,400 - $3,000,000 - $19,148,066 7.50% $24,734,729
2025 29 $13,750,000 $4,106,400 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $8,914 $23,865,314 8.55% $17,221,714
2026 30 $14,500,000 $4,106,400 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $24,606,400 8.11% $7,106,400
2027 31
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Option Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2022 26 $4,052,000 $20,532,000 - - - $24,584,000 $24,584,000 $84,884,580
2023 27 $2,000,000 - - $12,000,000 - $14,000,000 $38,584,000 $60,300,580
2024 28 $12,041,667 - - - - $12,041,666 $50,625,666 $46,300,580
2025 29 $13,750,000 - $3,000,000 - $8,914 $16,758,914 $67,384,580 $34,258,914
2026 30 $14,500,000 - $3,000,000 - - $17,500,000 $84,884,580 $17,500,000
Contract Notes
  • $38.5M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2022 salary + 2023 salary + 2023 option bonus)
  • $3,415,529 of 2024 salary fully guarantees 3/17/2023 (injury guaranteed at signing)
  • 2023 Option Bonus: $12M
  • 2025 Roster Bonus: $3M
  • 2026 Roster Bonus: $3M
Source: PFT

2018-2022 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $12,388,956
Average Salary:
$3,097,239
Signing Bonus:
$7,090,150
GTD at Sign:
$12,388,956
Total GTD:
$12,388,956
Free Agent:
2023 / UFA
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Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$79,773,536

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 22
Active
$7,570,150
$7,570,150
2019 23
Active
$1,043,134
$8,613,284
2020 24
Injured
$1,606,269
$10,219,553
2021 25
Active
$2,169,403
$12,388,956
2022 26
Active
$24,584,000
$36,972,956
 All NFL (2nd)
2023 27
Active
$14,000,000
$50,972,956
2024 28
Active
$12,041,666
$63,014,622
 Afc Pro Bowl:SS All NFL (2nd)
2025 29
Active
$16,758,914
$79,773,536
 Afc Pro Bowl:FS All NFL (2nd)
Total      
$79,773,536
$79,773,536
2026 30
Active
$17,500,000
Total
$97,273,536

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $37,142,473 $27,622,150 $3,000,000 - $8,914 - $79,773,536
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
22
$480,000
$7,090,150
$7,570,150
$7,570,150
2019
23
$1,043,134
$1,043,134
$8,613,284
2020
24
$1,606,269
$1,606,269
$10,219,553
2021
25
$2,169,403
$2,169,403
$12,388,956
2022
26
$4,052,000
$20,532,000
$24,584,000
$36,972,956
2023
27
$2,000,000
$12,000,000
$14,000,000
$50,972,956
2024
28
$12,041,667
$12,041,666
$63,014,622
2025
29
$13,750,000
$3,000,000
$8,914
$16,758,914
$79,773,536
Total
$37,142,473
$27,622,150
$3,000,000
$12,000,000
$8,914
$79,773,536
$79,773,536
2026
30
$14,500,000
$3,000,000
$17,500,000
Total
$51,642,473
$27,622,150
$6,000,000
$12,000,000
$8,914
$97,273,536

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $37,142,473 $27,622,150 $3,000,000 - $8,914 - $79,773,536

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2020 LAC 1 - 17 Knee
2020 LAC 15 - 17 COVID-19
2019 LAC 1 - 12 Foot
  • Sep 19, 2025 Fined $17,389 Leg Whip against Las Vegas (LV)
  • Nov 22, 2024 Fined $16,883 Horse-Collar Tackle against Cincinnati (CIN)
  • Sep 23, 2024 Suspended 1 game for Repeated Healthy & Safety Violations, forfeiting $708,333 in 2024 salary with Los Angeles (LAC)
  • Nov 17, 2023 Fined $43,710 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Detroit (DET)
  • Sep 22, 2023 Fined $21,855 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
  • Dec 30, 2022 Fined $25,462 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Indianapolis (IND)
  • Aug 17, 2022 Signed a 4 year $76.532 million contract extension with Los Angeles (LAC)
  • May 01, 2021 Los Angeles (LAC) exercised a $9.05 million option for 2022
  • Nov 23, 2018 Fined $10,026 Excessive Facemask against Denver (DEN)
  • Nov 09, 2018 Fined $26,739 Unnecessary Roughness against Seattle (SEA)
  • Jun 01, 2018 Signed a 4 year $12.3 million contract with Los Angeles (LAC)
  • Apr 26, 2018 Drafted by Los Angeles (LAC): Round 1 (#17 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Sep 19, 2025 Leg Whip against Las Vegas (LV) $17,389
Nov 22, 2024 Horse-Collar Tackle against Cincinnati (CIN) $16,883
Nov 17, 2023 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Detroit (DET) $43,710
Sep 22, 2023 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Nick Westbrook-Ikhine $21,855
Dec 30, 2022 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Indianapolis (IND) $25,462
Nov 23, 2018 Excessive Facemask against Denver (DEN) $10,026
Nov 09, 2018 Unnecessary Roughness against Seattle (SEA) $26,739
Fines: 7 $162,064

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Sep 23, 2024 Repeated Healthy & Safety Violations 1 $708,333
Suspensions: 1 $708,333
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 LAC 16 16 895 78.37 2 94 50 44 1 3
2024 LAC 16 16 984 92.31 6 93 60 33 0 1
2023 LAC 16 16 1,002 86.75 2 125 86 39 0 1
2022 LAC 14 14 836 70.13 4 115 64 51 2 2
2021 LAC 15 15 962 80.50 2 117 74 43 3 2
2019 LAC 5 5 299 30.40 0 33 23 10 0 0
2018 LAC 16 16 1,026 99.10 4 105 75 30 0 3

Calculated Market Value

$19.0M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 4 years, $76,172,316
  • Avg. Salary: $19,043,079
  • NFL Rank: 124
  • S Rank: 4

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2027
  • Avg. Salary: $19,133,000
  • NFL Rank: 120
  • S Rank: 4

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Derwin James to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Antoine Winfield Jr. 4 $84,100,000 $21,025,000 25
Kyle Hamilton 4 $100,400,000 $25,100,000 24
Minkah Fitzpatrick 4 $73,612,235 $18,403,059 25
Budda Baker 3 $54,000,000 $18,000,000 28
Averages 4 $78,028,059 $20,632,015 25.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at James's current age (29), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
4 $83,820,980 $20,955,245

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and James statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Tackles/Gm, Int/Gm, Catch Rate/Yr, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % Tackles/Gm Int/Gm Catch Rate/Yr Rating
Antoine Winfield Jr.
2022-2023
 88.24 82.95 4.67 0.13 69.30 84.50
Kyle Hamilton
2023-2024
 94.12 87.53 4.38 0.16 65.45 88.05
Minkah Fitzpatrick
2020-2021
 96.97 96.45 4.50 0.19 49.95 69.65
Budda Baker
2022-2023
 79.41 94.90 4.93 0.07 70.25 69.65
Average 89.69 90.46 4.62 0.14 63.74 77.96
Derwin James
2024-2025
 94.12 85.26 3.44 0.12 72.55 80.85
Pct Change 4.94 -5.75 -25.54 -14.29 -13.82 3.71
Median Prime % Change -9.79%
Average Prime % Change -8.46%

Calculated Market Value: Derwin James

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
4 years, $76,172,316 $19,043,079
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