Lock: Derwin James
The Chargers have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league this season despite everything that Derwin James has given them on that side of the ball. It has been really frustrating to watch this defense considering they have one of the best defensive players in the entire sport and a head coach that is supposed to be a defensive guru.
The overall struggles that the Chargers are having defensively should not stop James from getting the nod, though. He has been the one consistent pillar that has kept this defense afloat and if he were to not play it would quickly become evident how big of an impact he has.
There is not a single player in the league that can do everything that James does for this defense. James is essentially playing multiple roles as he lines up at high safety, man-to-man, plays in the slot, in the box, rushes the passer, you get the point.
He has set a career-high in sacks this season, has forced multiple fumbles and now has an interception on his ledger as well. He has already eclipsed 100 tackles in just 12 games played and has been the leader of that side of the ball.
James truly is a unicorn and it is a shame that the defensive unit as a whole cannot be better. If it was, James would be getting a lot more attention as leading one of the best defenses in the league. Instead, he is the only great part of what has been an awful unit.