Chargers' Derwin James Jr. Named to NFL Top 100, Check Out the Updated 2026 Rankings

Fresh off becoming the highest-paid player at his position, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. made his fifth straight appearance in the NFL Top 100.

James moved up four spots to No. 50.

Here's where the rankings stand at the halfway mark:

NFL Top 100 for 2026

100. New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan

99. Indianapolis Colts OG Quenton Nelson

98. Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young

97. Seattle Seahawks LB Ernest Jones IV

96. New Orleans Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr.

95. New York Jets LB Demario Davis

94. Kansas City Chiefs C Creed Humphrey

93. Cleveland Browns LB Carson Schwesinger

92. Houston Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair

91. Chicago Bears DE Montez Sweat

90. Carolina Panthers DE Derrick Brown

89. Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams

88. Detroit Lions LB Jack Campbell

87. Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan

86. Los Angeles Chargers LB Tuli Tuipulotu

85. San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy

84. Los Angeles Rams LB Byron Young

83. Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons

82. Pittsburgh Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey

81. LB Bobby Wagner

80. New England Patriots WR A.J. Brown

79. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

78. Arizona Cardinals LB Josh Sweat

77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

76. Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn

75. Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker

74. Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs

73. Denver Broncos DE Zach Allen

72. Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love

71. Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers

70. Green Bay Packers S Xavier McKinney

69. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

68. Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

67. Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks

66. Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London

65. Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith

64. New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave

63. Baltimore Ravens S Kyle Hamilton

62. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence

61. New England Patriots S Kevin Byard

60. Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers

59. Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix

58. Houston Texans WR Nico Collins

57. Buffalo Bills OT Dion Dawkins

56. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

55. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

54. San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner

53. Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams

52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs

51. Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams

50. Los Angeles Chargers S Derwin James Jr.

James finished 2025 with 94 combined tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble. He was a suffocating pass defender, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 61.1 percent completion rate and 59.6 passer rating on 54 targets, per Pro Football Reference.

The 29-year-old was a leader in multiple facets for a defense that ranked in the top 10 in yards and points allowed.

The Chargers' decision to give James an extension averaging $25.2 million speaks for itself. One secondary coach told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that he "had his best, most complete year" a season ago.

"Blitzing, coverage, tackling, just overall was really good," they said. "… He can really do it all. And he's been healthy for a long stretch, which is good to see."

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh hired Chris O'Leary to be the defensive coordinator after Jesse Minter left to coach the Baltimore Ravens. There's always the threat of regression for a unit when a new coordinator is installed.

As long as he stays healthy, Harbaugh and O'Leary should be able to count on James to set the right tone on the field and in the locker room.