Former FSU Football standout Derwin James signs largest deal ever for NFL safety
Former Florida State football star and current Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James signed a four-year contract extension today that will make him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
After “holding in” — taking mental reps but not participating — during the early part of the Chargers’ preseason camp, James agreed to a four-year, $76.5 million extension. James will earn an average of over $19.1 million per year through the 2026 season.
Not only is the deal the most lucrative ever signed by a player at his position, but James also will rake in a significant amount of the money up front. He is slated to earn over $42 million in guaranteed money from L.A.
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Last year with the Chargers, James returned from a season-ending meniscus injury the year prior to post another Pro Bowl season. He totaled an impressive 118 total tackles, 75 solo stops, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles in 15 starts.
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Before his 2021 campaign, which earned him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors, James earned first-team All-NFL recognition and finished second in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2018.
During his Seminole career, which spanned from 2015-’17, the Haines City, Fla., product started 22 games and recorded 186 total tackles, including 91 as a true freshman. James finished with 15 tackles for a loss, 5.5 career sacks and three interceptions while helping lead FSU to back-to-back New Year’s Six Bowl games.
As a recruit out of high school, James ranked as a top-five consensus player in the nation and easily the top safety prospect in the country. He was a Five-Star Plus+ safety recruit, according to the On3 Consensus — a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies — meaning he received a five-star rating from every recruiting website.
Last year, the Chargers finished 9-8 and third in the loaded AFC West division.
Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.
