Chargers extend Cameron Dicker’s contract, moving him into the NFL’s top five highest-paid kickers, according to report

Persistence has paid off for Cameron Dicker. Dicker, the Chargers’ kicker who wasn’t signed to the team two years ago, has agreed to a four-year, $22.004 million extension that includes $12.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.

The deal makes Dicker the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid kicker, just ahead of the Bengals’ Evan McPherson (who recently signed an extension) and the Giants’ Graham Gano. He joins the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker, the Eagles’ Jake Elliott, the Ravens’ Justin Tucker and the Colts’ Matt Gay as the only kickers whose contracts have a total value of more than $22 million.

Dicker, 24, entered the NFL with the Rams but was fired that summer. He spent some time with the Eagles before finding a long-term home with the Chargers. Dicker led the NFL in field goal percentage as a rookie, making all but one of his 20 attempts that season with the Chargers.

Last year, Dicker hit 31 of his 33 field goal attempts. He hit 16 of 16 on attempts between 40 and 49 yards and 7 of 10 on attempts of at least 50 yards. Dicker hit 35 of 35 on point-after attempts.

Dicker quickly earned the support of new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.

“I think Cameron Dicker is one of the best assets on our team,” Harbaugh said recently. “The way he does his job, he radiates confidence, true confidence and true greatness in what he does. It’s starting to rub off on me, too.

“… If I could live my life like Cameron Dicker, what a fun and enjoyable life that would be.”