Former Florida State star Derwin James reacts to Chargers big free agency news
Former Florida State Seminoles star Derwin James, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, was one happy camper after the Chargers inked a deal with JC Jackson.
Jackson is a former four-star recruit, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, and the 6-foot-1, 198-pound cornerback attended Florida and Maryland before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft. Though he would go undrafted, Jackson was quickly scooped up by the New England Patriots, where in three years he developed into one of the NFL’s top defensive backs, winning a Super Bowl and earning second-team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl honors in 2021. Now, he’ll join forces with James.
On Tuesday, Jackson inked a huge deal to leave New England, as he found a new home with the Los Angeles Chargers to the tune of a five-year, $82.5 million deal that invoices $40 million guaranteed. James seemed thrilled to have Jackson’s help in the Chargers secondary for the 2022 season.
This past season, Jackson joined James at the Pro Bowl after having a terrific season in New England. Jackson started all 17 regular-season games for the Patriots, and he amassed 58 total tackles (44 solo stops), two tackles for loss, eight interceptions (including a pick-six), 23 passes defended and one forced fumble.
James, also a 2021 Pro Bowl honoree, was a Five-Star Plus+ safety recruit, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, meaning he received a five-star rating from every recruiting website. After committing and playing at Florida State, James was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, taken off the board by the Chargers with the 17th-overall draft selection, and he was quickly named an All-Pro as a rookie in 2018. That year, James was also named the AP Defensive Player of the Year after the free safety amassed 105 total tackles (75 solo stops), four tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, three interceptions and 13 passes defended, all while starting all 16 regular-season games. He spent two seasons nursing injuries, but James quickly rejoined Jackson at the Pro Bowl in 2021 after an excellent campaign.
James was named the NFL’s AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2021. After playing just five games in 2019 and none in 2020, he played in 15 in 2021, amassing 118 total tackles (75 solo stops), 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defended and three forced fumbles.