Grading the Bears’ trade of Gervon Dexter to the Falcons

Grading the Bears' trade of Gervon Dexter to the Falcons.

Key points

• Dexter, a 2023 second-round pick out of Florida, flashed potential over the last three seasons, particularly when rushing the passer.
• Sunday is roster cutdown day throughout the NFL, and the Chicago Bears are getting a head start in finalizing their initial roster ahead of the regular season.
• Did the Bears obtain enough for Dexter going into such an notable year?
• Dexter is entering the last year of his contract, and it became clear the Bears weren't going to extend him at any point going into free agency.

Grading the Bears' trade of Gervon Dexter to the Falcons. Brendan Sugrue Bears Wire.

Sunday is roster cutdown day throughout the NFL, and the Chicago Bears are getting a head start in finalizing their initial roster ahead of the regular season. The Bears are trading defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a fifth-round pick and cornerback Clark Phillips III, according to multiple reports.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz documented Dexter was on the trade block earlier this week, and now he heads off to his new team just before the regular season.

Dexter, a 2023 second-round pick out of Florida, flashed potential over the last three seasons, particularly when rushing the passer. After a pedestrian rookie season, Dexter began producing, totaling five sacks, 19 QB hits, and four tackles for loss in 2024 and six sacks, 11 QB hits, and six tackles for loss in 2025. He had been the starting defensive tackle for the Bears for the last two seasons, but general manager Ryan Poles believes his defense can function with him.

Notably, the Bears retooled their defensive line room by adding free agents Kentavius Street, James Lynch, and Neville Gallimore before drafting Jordan van den Berg out of Georgia Tech. Those additions and the emergence of van den Berg created Dexter expendable. He is at present dealing with a minor injury that caused him to miss Saturday's preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Did the Bears obtain enough for Dexter going into such an notable year? Or was it even the right decision to trade him? Here is our initial grade of the trade.

If this were any of the other previous seasons in which expectations for the Bears should be kept at a minimum, this trade would create all the sense in the world. Dexter is entering the last year of his contract, and it became clear the Bears weren't going to extend him at any point going into free agency. Why not obtain something in return for him before it's too late? But this Bears team is projected to compete for a division title at a minimum, and the defensive line is one of the positions of concern going into the year. Why take away assets when they can't generate enough pressure on the quarterback or consistently stop the run?

Dexter has his flaws, such as his high pad level and slow get-off. Those haven't improved much since he came into the league and probably weren't going to suddenly change in Year 4. Plus he isn't a scheme fit for what Allen runs. That being remarked, he still was one of the more productive defensive linemen on the team the last couple of years, and now the Bears are relying on an aging Grady Jarrett, Street, Gallimore, and a sixth-round rookie to carry the load. That's not ideal.

As far as the return goes, it's more than I thought the Bears would obtain if a trade concluded up materializing. I felt resigned to the fact any accord would net a sixth-round pick. The Bears obtain a fifth, plus Phillips. This person is needed to assist provide depth at another position of need. Phillips, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Utah, is coming off an injury in 2025 and has experience at both inside and outside cornerback. With the uncertainty still looming with Kyler Gordon, it's good insurance going into the season.

If it were up to me, I would have kept Dexter for this season. Let him be a rotational piece on the line to support pressure the quarterback and possibly secure a compensatory pick when he eventually walks next spring. This is just too significant a season to take away productive players at a position of need after doing highly little to improve it. Ben Johnson has talked regarding the group being their most underrated position last week in camp, but I need to see it in meaningful games before I believe it.g highly little to improve it. Ben Johnson has talked regarding the group being their most underrated position last week in camp but I need to see it in meaningful games before I believe it.

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Taken together, the developments around grading the Bears trade of Gervon Dexter to the Falcons point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.