Kendricks saw firsthand what James brings to the table as his teammate in 2023.

What stood out to him the most? His ability and willingness as a tackler from the safety position.

“His ability to tackle and stop the run as far as safety is concerned, is unlike anything I’ve seen,” Kendricks said. “It’s more like he’s a linebacker when it comes to the run game as well.”

His former teammate continued detailing a play the star safety made last season.

“We were playing the Jets, I think it was [Monday] Night Football,” Kendricks said. “It was a screen play and I remember thinking that I was kind of by myself, I was shedding a lineman and I chose to force the running back inside and Derwin came [smacks].

“If I would’ve chose to go the other way, he would have hit me,” Kendricks added.

The Bolts defense looks much different when James is doing what he’s showed he can do and finding the right balance could change a lot of how the unit looks in 2024.

But what he brings as one of the unquestioned leaders of the Bolts is just as valuable to the team.

“He’s an all-around smart player,” Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston said. “He always knows where he at, he always knows where everybody else has to be.

“He’s always the main guy giving pregame speeches,” Johnston added. “He just gives the team a lot of energy.”