Derwin James is the highest-paid safety in NFL history - who are the top 10?

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The Los Angeles Chargers signed safety Derwin James to a four-year, $76.5 million extension with $42 million guaranteed. That means he’ll be earning around $19.1 million per year, making James the highest-paid safety in NFL history. He has now surpassed Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was recently given a $73 million extension. That’s quite the raise for James, who was making $12.38 million over four years, around $3,097 annually before. He was the 34th highest-paid safety and has now skyrocketed to number one.

Safeties aren’t typically the highest-paid players in the NFL, but the standard is going up every year. Let’s take a look at the top ten highest-paid safeties in the NFL.

1. Derwin James, Chargers:

$19.1 million ($76.5 million over 4 years)

2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers:

$18.24 million ($72.98 million over 4 years)

3. Jamal Adams, Seahawks:

$17.5 million ($70 million over 4 years)

4. Harrison Smith, Vikings:

$16 million ($64 million over 4 years)

5. Justin Simmons, Broncos:

$15.2 million ($61 million over 4 years)

6. Budda Baker, Cardinals:

$14.75 million (59 million over 4 years)

7. Eddie Jackson, Bears:

$14.6 million ($58.4 million over 4 years)

8. Kevin Byard, Titans:

$14.1 million ($70.5 million over 5 years)

9. Marcus Williams, Ravens:

$14 million ($70 million over 5 years)

10. Quandre Diggs, Seahawks:

$13 million ($39 million over 3 years)