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Chargers exercise fifth-year option on S Derwin James

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Apr 29, 2021 6:00 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has flashed All-Pro talent when healthy but was frustratingly slowed by injuries across each of the past two years. That reality did not prevent the Chargers from making an easy decision.

MMQB's Albert Breer and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler have confirmed that the Chargers exercised the fifth-year option attached to James' rookie contract:

#Chargers have officially picked up safety safety Derwin James' option, locking him in at $9.052 million for 2022. Massive talent despite the injuries. (@AlbertBreer 1st)
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 29, 2021

James entered the NFL when the Chargers drafted him 17th overall in 2018, and he performed like one of the best defensive stars of his class en route to earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors his debut season. His career has mostly gone downhill since then, however, as a stress fracture in his foot limited him to five games the following year. He then missed the entire 2020 campaign because of a torn meniscus that required season-ending surgery in September to repair.

Across 21 regular-season contests, James has recorded 139 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 14 pass breakups. He is on track to be ready for training camp, barring any setbacks, and will have up to two years to prove he's worth a long-term investment.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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