The Los Angeles Chargers and All-Pro safety Derwin James have agreed to terms on a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension.
The deal has an average annual value of $19.13 million and resets the safety market, making James the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
James agreed to the deal one day after Chargers coach Brandon Staley described the star safety as an “impact player” and the “heartbeat of our defense.”
“When I see him, I’m like, ‘That’s a defensive back,’ because he can play anywhere,” Staley said Tuesday. “He can play either safety spot, he can play corner. … He can rush the quarterback and make an impact as a blitzer, he can make an impact in man-to-man coverage, and then he can make an impact in zone defense, whether he’s playing low or high — and he’s our signal-caller and the heartbeat of our defense.”