After ranking seventh in 2024, James sees a slight increase after earning Second-Team All-Pro honors this past season.
Derwin James is coming off one of his best seasons as a professional as he was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2024 as a slot defender. He thrived in year one of Jesse Minter’s defense where he produced double-digit tackles for loss and posted a new career-high with 5.5 sacks.
A season ago, despite analysts calling his 2023 campaign a “down” year, he was still ranked seventh by executives and coaches (per ESPN) around the league. This year, he moved up one spot to No. 6 on the same list voted on by higher-ups in the NFL.
“One of the baddest safeties in the game burst onto the scene with an All-Pro rookie performance in 2018 before battling injuries for several years,” says ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler. “He has been healthy for the past four seasons, returning to his disruptive self in 2024 after a down year in 2023.”
“Betting on James’ high-end traits and a new system paid off for Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who watched James produce career-highs in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (5.5).”
“‘He’s so disruptive around the ball and physical that you have to know where he is at all times,’ an NFC scout said. ‘He showed what he can do when healthy and put in positions to affect the ball.’”
But believe it or not, there are some people who still don’t believe James is worthy of the praise he’s been receiving throughout his career. Per Fowler, a veteran AFC staffer believes James has “average athletic tools” and is a “choosy tackler,” essentially calling him scared or afraid of tackling certain players.
I call complete and utter nonsense on this.
No one who has watched James, when healthy, comes away with an opinion like this. James isn’t afraid of taking on anyone and the receipts are plenty. No one should have to defend James in this manner, but the crazies will always find their way to the surface.
Every week, Derwin James is going to test how much your RBs love football. pic.twitter.com/tnrVyp90He
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) December 30, 2024
The five other safeties ranked above James this year are (in descending order) Kyle Hamilton, Brian Branch, Xavier McKinney, Jessie Bates, and Kerby Joseph. The remaining safeties after James are (in descending order) Antoine Winfield Jr., Budda Baker, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Julian Love.
In year two under Minter, I can only assume James will continue to be one of the most disruptive defenders in the NFL for another season.