Chargers S Derwin James Could Spark Trade Chatter

The Chargers are off to a surprising 0-6 start, and La Canfora notes the expectation is that they will have a “significant sell-off.”

James is currently under contract through 2029, but La Canfora says the demand for a positionless defender with a unique skillset like James’ will be high enough that he could get moved still.

James, 30, is the former 17th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Chargers out of Florida State. He finished the fourth year of a four-year, $12.388 million dollar rookie contract that included a $7.090 million dollar signing bonus.

He returned in 2021 after missing all but five games of the 2019 season and missed the entire 2020 season due to injury. The Chargers then picked up his fifth-year option back in April of 2021.

James later signed a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the Chargers back in 2022. He was entering the final year of that deal and slated to make a base salary of $14.5 million in 2026 when he signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension through 2029.

In 2026, James has appeared in three games for the Chargers and recorded 21 total tackles and one pass deflection. 

We’ll have more on the Chargers as the news becomes available.