Chargers' Derwin James stumbles down top safeties list but is primed to rise again

As he does every year, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continues to survey league personnel for their top 10 players at each position. In this year's safeties edition, Chargers S Derwin James was ranked at No. 7. Prior to the 2023 season, James was ranked #2 in the same poll.

This year's poll has Antoine Winfield Jr., Kyle Hamilton, Jessie Bates III, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jevon Holland and Budda Baker ranked above the Chargers' veteran defender.

One NFL coordinator said to Fowler that James "did not play like a top safety last year." While still a decent enough season by James' standards, he slipped to his worst single-season PFF defense and coverage grades of his career.

While there were certainly some standout games for the Chargers' star safety against the Broncos and Jets, he gave up the most allowed coverage yards of his career on the season as a whole. James also committed eight penalties, the most of his career.

Derwin James is due for a bounce-back year for the Chargers

However, there are many who believe that Brandon Staley's previous defensive scheme failed to properly use James' skillset. The former All-Pro played the fewest snaps of his career by percentage from the box (30.1%).

By contrast, James played the most snaps of his career at slot corner with 225. This point is also mentioned in Fowler's piece. One NFL offensive assistant reportedly told him James is "probably best in the box". A defensive resurgence under Minter for James probably starts with getting his 2024 snap locations by position more in line with the rest of his career.

Jesse Minter has spoken multiple times about not "overloading" him from a responsibility standpoint. Per Jeremy Fowler, an unnamed NFL talent evaluator told him something similar: "Bet on the traits and ability in a new system and he can remain a top guy." Time will tell if Minter's defense is the boost that James needs to return to form.

Also from a Chargers' standpoint in Fowler's poll, S Alohi Gilman received votes for the honorable mentions section. The former Notre Dame safety will be back with LA after receiving a second contract this offseason from the new regime. After a breakout season, Gilman earned a two-year, $10.1 million deal. He recorded the best coverage season of his career with an 89.2 PFF grade in that category.

The Chargers added the recently unretired Tony Jefferson to fill out their safety room around James and Gilman this season.