In a more unique turn of events in Chargers history, the team has two solid kickers working for the number one spot this coming season.
Cameron Dicker and Dustin Hopkins were facing off in mini-camp, with Dicker winning the starting spot on the current 53-man roster prior to the start of training camp.
With training camp a month away, I make a case for Hopkins and Dicker as the team’s starter.
Dustin Hopkins
Hopkins is a tough and rugged football player. He doesn’t leave anything to be wanted in a special teams player. Before Hopkins’ hamstring injury, he was having a near-perfect season and managed to help carry the bolts to a win playing through his injury that ultimately ended his season. For Bolts fans, it was an impressive feat. The Chargers are used to having tough players who refuse to go down – Phillip Rivers being the guy most people think of first in this archetype. Hopkins was a reliable kicker for the team, and the dedication he displayed while kicking through his injury was incredible to see. He also brings a much-needed veteran presence to the special teams unit. Hopkins has been in the league since 2013, longer than most players in the unit which brings experience and leadership to the crew that they could be lacking otherwise. Unfortunately, this is also one of his cons. Hopkins is competing against a much younger kicker which provides a bright long-term future for the team. Fantastic kickers in the NFL last 10-15 years on average. With Hopkins entering his 10th year, it is safe to say that there could be a time in the next 3-5 years when his play caliber declines and he slides into a relief role. Especially if his injury from the 2022 season comes back to haunt him.
Cameron Dicker
Dicker the kicker was one of the best mid-season acquisitions of the 2022 season. Dicker, fresh out of the University of Texas, was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Los Angeles Rams prior to the start of the 2022 season. From there, Dicker was passed around from team to team before making his first NFL appearance in the Eagles Cardinals game on October 9th where he executed 2/2 field goals including a game-winning 23-yarder. He was named NFC special teams player of the week before being released by the Eagles and subsequently signed by the Chargers on November 3rd. Dicker was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week only three days later. Throughout the season Dicker was completely reliable making 100% of all PATs and missing only 1 field goal all season – making his record 42/43 or 95.5%. The Chargers have an opportunity here to make Dicker their franchise guy, similar to what the Ravens did with Justin Tucker back in 2012. Dicker is about to enter his second NFL season, and if he continues to perform as he has then it would be in their best interest to get him on a long-term deal to secure their special teams future. Unfortunately, Los Angeles has a long and tiresome history with special teams units and fantastic first-year performers – including kickers like Michael Badgley who had a near-perfect season but immediately faced decline the following years. Since leaving the Chargers, Badgley has had great consistency which begs the question – was it really the kickers or was it the coaching? Special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken is arguably one of the best in the game and took the special teams unit to the next level. Working with three kickers in one season, Ficken managed to have incredible consistency and draw up plays that greatly impacted the outcome of multiple games. With Ficken on staff, it is less likely that we would see a drop in Dicker’s production should he remain in the starting position that he is currently in on the 53.
Dicker will be kicking as the presumed starter in training camp this summer, but we should see both of them taking kicks in the pre-season games this August in a last-ditch effort to solidify who the Chargers will take with them moving forward.