The Los Angeles Chargers selected Nasir Adderley 60th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. And after a quiet rookie campaign, he has spent the last three years as the team’s starting deep safety. However, his rookie contract expires this offseason, so will the Chargers re-sign Adderley or let him test his 2023 market value?
Nasir Adderley’s Career Production
A corner turned two-time all-conference safety at Delaware, Adderley had many fans in the pre-draft process. He had the size (6’0″, 200 pounds), length, overall athleticism, versatility, and temperament teams covet at the position.
But his biggest knocks revolved around his inconsistency in play recognition and reactivity — traits that come with experience, especially at deep safety. So, it was common knowledge that the Deleware star would need refinement at the NFL level.
Well, Adderley didn’t get much of that as a rookie. After playing the first four games of the season, primarily on special teams, he aggravated a hamstring injury that ultimately ended his season on injured reserve.
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Yet, Adderley didn’t let the lost season derail his NFL career. Since 2020, he has started 40 of the 42 games he’s been active. In that span, he generated 221 total tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 10 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
It’s important to note that Adderley will never be a stat-sheet suffer, given his role on the defense as a deep-field safety. And it’s easy for fans to see one long pass allowed and forget about the countless snaps before where Adderley was in a position to confine the opposing offense.
Still, Adderley’s had his warts — none bigger than in Week 5 this season. In an effort to light a fire under their fourth-year safety after several underwhelming performances, the Chargers benched Adderley against the Cleveland Browns, giving the starting nod to Alohi Gilman.
Gilman actually secured a fourth-quarter red-zone INT in the game, but Adderley won his starting position back in practice and has yet to relinquish it again this season.
Nasir Adderley’s Current Contract
As the 60th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Adderley signed a four-year, $4,732,112 deal with $2,171,632 in total guarantees. Now in the final year of his contract, he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Adderley’s 2023 Market Value
According to Spotrac, Adderley’s 2023 market value is worthy of a three-year, $26,363,118 contract ($8,787,706 per year). Just two years ago, former Chargers standout safety Rayshawn Jenkins agreed to a four-year, $35 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A more recent contract worth comparing to is Marcus Maye’s three-year, $22.5 million pact with the New Orleans Saints. Maye was 28 when he signed and fresh off arguably his worst season, both due to injury and poor play. However, he had the name recognition and elite ceiling that Adderley hasn’t shown.
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With the Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Poyer and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Jessie Bates III also hitting free agency in 2023, the overall value of the safety position could rise, depending on the deals that those stars sign.
If neither receives a market-resetting deal, Adderley’s value will likely fall in Spotrac’s territory. So the question becomes: Which team will he sign with?
Fit on the Los Angeles Chargers’ Depth Chart
Since Brandon Staley’s rise to the Chargers’ head coaching position in 2021, Adderley has played a more versatile role, taking significantly more snaps in the box and slot than he did in 2020. That has coincided with increased production, as he’s closer to the line of scrimmage, and improved play.
Of course, having an All-Pro talent like Derwin James next to you makes life easier. And when Gilman (2020 sixth-rounder) has been on the field, there hasn’t been a noticeable drop in performance. The Chargers also drafted JT Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, presumably with Adderley’s free agency in mind.
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Still, Woods has played fewer than 50 total defensive snaps this year, so Los Angeles is clearly not comfortable giving him crucial reps just yet. Adderley is only 25, lost his 2019 season to injury, and dealt with a COVID-impacted 2020 offseason regiment. And with a more routine 2021 program, he took a massive step forward.
There’s reason to believe Adderley’s best outings are still in front of him, and if the Chargers believe that, they will aim to retain his services … but can they?
L.A. is currently projected to be roughly $8 million over the salary cap in 2023, and Justin Herbert’s contract extension looms. Thus, they will need to make sacrifices at several positions, and safety is likely one of them with Gilman and Woods on team-friendly rookie contracts.