The biggest complaint about the Chicago Bears' roster is the lack of support at defensive tackle.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles added multiple defensive line backups, but none really moved the needle. Rookie sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg has fans mostly excited, but that's about it.
Well, the defensive tackle position could become a bigger problem given what the Bears are considering. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bears are shopping starting defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. and have several scenarios where he could be moved before the season.
Bears actually considering the unthinkable with Gervon Dexter Sr.
In 2025, he collected 44 tackles, 38 pressures, 25 hurries, 11 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, six sacks, and two fumble recoveries in 17 games. He posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 57.7, ranking 72nd out of 134 eligible interior defensive linemen in 2025. Dexter was second on the team in sacks behind Montez Sweat.
This isn't the first time Bears fans have heard it. During the offseason, there was chatter about Dexter possibly being traded away at some point.
The biggest issue is that Dexter is in the final year of his rookie contract and could command roughly $25 million per year on his next deal. That is money the Bears cannot afford. For Chicago, if they move him now, they can get some value out of him before losing him to free agency.
Many will wonder whether the Bears will trade Dexter if it means they are so high on van den Berg that they could make him a starter. Grady Jarrett is still in Chicago and in the second year of his three-year contract. The problem is that Jarrett is coming off a down year when he wasn't 100% healthy.
It feels like this is now a question of when Dexter could be traded if these talks get serious. The Bears know they won't pay him, so why not send him somewhere that will? This could lead to the team picking up a draft pick or two in a trade, something Poles values highly.
Read more: Bears' flurry of roster moves ensures reinforcements are on the way
A Dexter trade is only going to intensify the questions about why the team did not do more in free agency or the draft to bring in quality defensive tackles. The hope is that van den Berg is ready to move up into the starting lineup if Dexter is indeed traded.
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