Derwin James has signed a four-year extension for the Los Angeles Chargers, reportedly worth $76.4 million. This contract makes him the highest-paid safety in NHL history, with an average salary of $19.13 million per year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers was the previous record holder. He signed a $73.61 million extension contract in June. This contract put him at an average annual salary of $18.4 million, around $700,000 less than James’ new, record-breaking contract.
Highest paid defensive players
While James is the highest-paid safety in the NFL, he is far from the highest-paid defensive player. That honor goes to Aaron Donald with his three-year, $95 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams. Donald has been named the Defensive Player of the Year three times. His storied history and high performance played a large hand in securing him this massive contract. There are only 12 players with a higher annual salary than Donald, all of whom are quarterbacks.
Donald is trailed by Steelers outside linebacker T.J Watt, who secured a 4-year $112 million extension for a $28 million annual salary in 2021. He would then go on to win Defensive Player of the Year after signing the contract.
In third place is Joey Bosa of the Chargers with a 5-year, $135 million contract, which puts him at $27 million annually. The fourth place belongs to Myles Garret of the Cleveland Browns. The defensive end took a five-year, $125 million contract, which clocks in at $25 million per year.
Khalil Mack, also playing for the Chargers, and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, are tied for fifth place with an average yearly salary of $23.5 million. Mack signed a six-year, $141 million deal, while Crosby took a four-year, $94 million extension.
James is ranked 12 on the list of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL, putting him above names such as the San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner and Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders.
The Los Angeles Chargers currently hold three out of 20 of the most expensive defensive player contracts with Bosa, Mack, and James. The three athletes combined cost the team just under $70 million per year. In contrast, the Rams have two players in the top 20 in Donald and Jalen Ramsey, which cost the team $51.6 million per year.
Below is the full list of the top 20 highest-paid defensive players.
1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams: $31,666,667
2. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $28,002,750
3. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers: $27,000,000
4. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $25,000,000
5. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $23,500,000
5. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers: $23,500,000
7. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers: $21,000,000
7. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts: $21,000,000
7. Leonard Williams, New York Giants: $21,000,000
10. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: $20,100,000
11. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $20,000,000
11. Von Miller, Buffalo Bills: $20,000,000
11. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams: $20,000,000
14. Shaquille Leonard, Indianapolis Colts: $19,700,000
16. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints: $19,520,600
16. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: $19,500,000
17. Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers: $19,133,000
18. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers: $19,045,000
19. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers: $18,403,059
20. Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders: $18,000,000
20. Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins: $18,000,000