Derwin James, Jr. went into 2024 motivated and looking to return to the top of the safety rankings.

He did all that, and more.

The All-Pro safety is the most recent member of the Bolts to appear on the NFL's Top 100 list at No. 54, as it is his fourth straight appearance and fifth overall.

James did it all in 2024 and put together one of his best all-around seasons on the way to Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.

A team captain in 2024, James was second on the team in tackles, tackles for loss and notched an interception last season.

He also set a career-high with 5.5 sacks, a mark that was the highest among all NFL defensive backs. James tied for the most quarterback pressures among defensive backs in the NFL with 21 during the regular season, according to Next Gen Stats.

The star safety did it all playing primarily in the slot, a place where he thrived as he was able to be closer to the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc on the game.

"To me, he's like the head of the snake," Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said during the season. "He drives everything with his mindset, his approach.

"He's willing to line up anywhere we ask and attack it with a crazy amount of focus and detail and competitiveness and spirit," Minter added.

James continues to be the heart of the Chargers defense on and off the field, as he sets the tone and elevates all of those around him.

"When you talk about knowing every position, learning front and back, everything, you would think he's been in this defense for five-plus years but it's only his second year," cornerback Donte Jackson said about James recently.

"I think that's the reason I'm so in it now, because you're playing with a guy like DJ," Jackson added. "You can only match his speed, you get left in the dust not doing what he's doing. You want to know something, how to do something, you look at No. 3. He's literally the standard, he's literally Charger football."