2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds: Chargers All-Pro Derwin James becomes highest-paid safety in league history

When healthy, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is one of the most impactful defensive players in the league. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro, but he has had trouble staying on the field the past three seasons. That has not scared off the Chargers, however, from making James the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Los Angeles has signed him to a four-year extension averaging $19.1 million per year, including a record-breaking $42 million guaranteed. James is +5000 to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year this season at Caesars Sportsbook.

James has yet to practice in camp because he was "holding in" and recovering from shoulder surgery. Coach Brandon Staley previously said James would sit out until his contract situation is resolved, so perhaps he will hit the practice field as soon as today. James was slated to make $9.05 million this year on the fifth and final season of his rookie contract.

"I don't worry about Derwin," Staley said recently. "Derwin has given us no reason to worry. It would be one thing if he wasn't here, but we see him every day. He's in the best shape of his life. This is the first time in a while he's had a full offseason with nothing to prohibit him from training. He feels great, so that gives us a lot of confidence."

James, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Florida State (he was second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting to Colts linebacker Darius Leonard), missed two games last season but filled the stat sheet with 118 tackles, three forced fumbles, two picks and two sacks. He didn't play at all in 2020 due to meniscus surgery and was limited to five games in 2019. In his 36 career games played, the Chargers are 21-15. The team is 12-17 when he doesn't take the field.

DraftKings lists James at over/under 114.5 tackles this season. No safety has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year since future Hall-of-Famer Troy Polamalu did so in 2010. No Chargers player has ever won it.

The Chargers open the season at home on Sept. 11 vs. the Raiders and are 3.5-point favorites.

Which Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five performance? Join SportsLine now to get Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Jonathan Taylor's huge season, and find out.