Derwin James Jr.: Chargers’ contract extension ‘means the world’

EL SEGUNDO — Derwin James Jr. said he got the heads-up from Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz months ago. James should worry about playing football and not the business of football. A contract extension that would make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL was already in the works.

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James was taking a recovery bath on Tuesday in preparation for the first day of organized training activities on Wednesday when he got the call. The deal was done, James’ agent David Mulugheta told him. Now, he really could focus on playing football rather than the business of football.

“It means the world to me,” James said of a three-year, $75.6 million extension that could tie him to the Chargers through the 2029 season and possibly for the rest of his stellar career. “That’s every player’s goal, especially with an organization like this. It’s first class. There’s nothing but love here.”

The Chargers drafted James in the first round from Florida State in 2018, and the 17th overall pick made an immediate impact on everyone he came in contact with during a rookie season in which he had three interceptions, 105 tackles and too many broad smiles to count over 16 games, all starts.

James was picked to play in the Pro Bowl after his rookie season, the first of his five selections. He became a leader on the field and anywhere else he could make his presence felt. In time, he would become one of the Chargers’ four pillars, along with outside linebacker Khalil Mack, quarterback Justin Herbert and left tackle Rashawn Slater.

“It’s dope, man,” Mack said of James’ extension, which will pay him an average of $25.2 million per season, the highest of any safety in the league. “It’s a dope thing to see. The guy, not just the football player, but the man that he is off the field, is one of the greatest teammates I’ve ever played with. He carries himself like that every day. The energy is positive. It’s infectious throughout the building. You want to keep a guy like Derwin in any building.

“I’m sure any team around the NFL would want to keep him for a lifetime.”

ALT, SLATER UPDATES

Slater and right tackle Joe Alt could be sound enough to join the Chargers for full activities when training camp begins in late July. According to Coach Jim Harbaugh, they are both “ahead of schedule” after suffering season-ending knee and ankle injuries, respectively, last season.

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“They’ve looked really good,” Harbaugh said.

Will they be at full strength to start camp?

“It sure looks that way,” Harbaugh said.

Slater was injured during an innocent-looking drill during training camp and sat out all season. Alt sustained ankle injuries in Weeks 4 and 9, with the second one wiping out the rest of his season. The Chargers struggled to replace them and Herbert suffered the consequences.

Opponents sacked Herbert 54 times last season, a career high.

HERBERT RETURNS

Herbert rejoined the Chargers for the first day of OTAs on Wednesday after spending the past two weeks accompanying his singer/songwriter girlfriend, Madison Beer, on her tour. Harbaugh said he all but insisted that Herbert take a break from the offseason grind.

“When he told me he wasn’t going to be here for those two weeks, my first reaction was, ‘Do you need a ride to the airport?’” Harbaugh said. “He’s just here all the time. Sometimes I want to shoo him out of the building. He’s at every voluntary and non-voluntary workout.

“He’s the same guy who broke his hand (in a Nov. 30 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last season) and was here the next day practicing and playing in the next game stiff-arming guys. So, yeah, I was happy, happy (he took the time off). Good (life/work) balance, good balance.”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel walked into the linebackers’ huddle at one point during Wednesday’s practice, which didn’t surprise Daiyan Henley in the least. In the short time McDaniel has been with the Chargers, Henley has grown accustomed to the unexpected from him, including sticking his nose into a defensive meeting once in a while.

“He’s just a unique individual,” said Henley, who had a team-leading 103 tackles last season to go with two interceptions and 3½ sacks. “Like, you think Coach Harbaugh has strange moments, and that right there, I feel like that’s a guy who’s not on our side of the ball, but I can’t help but feel he loves us, right? He makes sure he involves himself in everything.”

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