Chargers' Derwin James gets much-earned honor with Madden 24 rating

Derwin James fell into the LA Chargers' lap in the 2018 NFL Draft and the rest has been history since. Projected to be a top-10 selection, James slid to the 17th overall pick and it was a no-brainer for Tom Telesco to select the standout Florida State safety.

James made his impact felt instantly in the NFL with an All-Pro season as a rookie. He was the best part of a good Chargers defense that helped the team go 12-4 that season. The sky was the limit for a young James.

However, injuries really slowed James down and took him out of the spotlight. James played only five games in his second season and missed all of the 2020 season. By the time 2021 rolled around. it was worth questioning whether or not he would be the same player.

Well, James has been the same player as he has turned in back-to-back great seasons for the Chargers. With the 2021 and 2022 season in the rear-view mirror, James has finally earned a much-deserved honor: he is the highest-rated safety in all of Madden 24.

Chargers' Derwin James gets a 95 rating on Madden 24

NFL executives, coaches and scouts may not have ranked Derwin James as the best safety in the sport but the folks over at EA certainly did. Not only is James the highest-rated safety in the game, he is two whole overall points higher than Minkah Fitzpatrick. When we are talking about ratings in the 90s that is a huge jump.

It totally makes sense why James is the highest-rated safety in the game as he can truly do it all. There is not a defensive player in the sport that can do all the things that James does, whether it be in coverage, in run defense or even in blitz packages.

Sure, Fitzpatrick may be the better safety in coverage and makes excellent plays on the football but he does not offer the same insane versatility that James gives the Chargers. Of course, a player that can literally do it all on defense is going to be the top-rated player at his position.