The Chicago Bears have been rumored to want to trade defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. since the offseason. Well, it finally happened.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the Bears are indeed trading Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick. Falcons' new general manager Ian Cunningham was the Bears' assistant general manager when Chicago selected Dexter in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Dexter racked up 115 tackles, 42 quarterback hits, 13.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections. Last season, he was second on the Bears in sacks with six. He was on the final year of his rookie contract.
Bears finally move on from Gervon Dexter Sr. in a trade with the Falcons
Dexter was such a key part to this defensive line, so it's a surprise and not a surprise at the same time. He is goging to command at least $25 million per year on his next contract and the Bears simply can't afford that. It's better to get some value out of him now rather than wait until it's too late.
This training camp and preseason, rookie sixth-round pick defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg has emerged as a great talent for the Bears. Van den Berg might actually be projected to be the starter on the team in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers he's playing so well right now.
As for the addition of Phillips, he was the Falcons' fourth-round selection in 2023. He's only started seven of 28 games, so he's seen more as a depth player for the Bears.
Phillips hasn't played much football lately, though, only being active for one game last year. A triceps injury cost him the 2025 campaign with the Falcons.
It's not known how Phillips will enter the picture with the Bears, but it is a depth piece that they could use right now. After multiple injuries in the secondary, Phillips could be a good backup for the team.
Read more: 7 instant takeaways from Bears' preseason finale win against Titans
Bears general manager Ryan Poles has not been big on making trades this offseason, but this is a big one to set the tone for the 2026 season. This could be another year where the rookies might be making a bigger impact on the team than anyone could have imagined.
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