LA Chargers safety Derwin James is a top-31 player in the NFL.
Pro Football Focus has been releasing their top-50 players list for the 2020 season on their Twitter account and several LA Chargers players have already been featured in the top-50.
At the time of writing this, PFF has gone through ranks 50-27 and of the Chargers that have already been featured, Derwin James is the highest as he is ranked as the 31st-best player in the league heading into 2020.
There is no denying that James is a top-50 player in the league and this is probably right where he belongs to be. If James was healthy last season and continued to build on his rookie season then you could easily make the case that he would be a top-25, if not top-20, player in the league.
James has a fantastic rookie season in which he showcased his versatility at the next level. Although he did not win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award as Darius Leonard also had a tremendous rookie season, he definitely had the kind of year worthy of accolades.
That is why James as named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in his first professional season. He only played six games and was still limited last season because of injury and Charger fans are just itching to see him back at full strength and in action in 2020.
Other LA Chargers that have made the top-50:
Casey Hayward made the list as the 39th-best player heading into 2020, which seems about right. PFF ranked Hayward as the fifth-best cornerback in the league after the 2019 season and while 39 might seem low for the fifth-best corner in the league, it is about right considering the rest of the talent in the league and Hayward’s age.
Joey Bosa also made the cut as the 47th-best player. This is definitely a bit low for Bosa and I guarantee that he exceeds PFF’s expectations for him in 2020.
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Bosa is heading into the prime years of his career and is in a contract year, so he is going to play even better. Plus, Bosa is already kind of overlooked as is, especially considering the rookie season that his brother, Nick, had in the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl run.
The only notable Charger that has not been revealed yet that is undoubtedly going to make the top-50 list is Keenan Allen. Allen is a top-five receiver in the league and it would be asinine if he did not make the cut.
My guess is that Allen will be ranked 22nd on the top-50 list. No rhyme or reason, that number just feels right.
Austin Ekeler, Hunter Henry and Mike Williams are the three-best Chargers that just missed the cut. If this list was a top-70 list then all three probably would have made it.