Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz contract extension talks with S Derwin James and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu “will heat up after the draft.”

ESPN’s Kris Rhim said earlier this week that James “almost certainly want[s] a new deal before training camp starts” in mid-to-late July. The Chargers’ organized team activities are scheduled to run May 26-27, May 29, June 2-4 and June 8-11. Mandatory minicamp will run from June 16-18. If extensions have not been agreed upon by the time mandatory minicamp rolls around, James and Tuipulotu could choose to hold out. That at least gives us a benchmark to check up on. Stay tuned.