Rumors had lingered since early in the offseason and resurfaced recently, and on cutdown day they were paid off. ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the Chicago Bears traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips II and a fifth-round pick.
As potential Dexter trade destinations went, Atlanta made plenty of sense. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was assistant general manager when the Bears made Dexter a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Dexter has shown plenty of promise as a pass rusher, with 11 sacks and 83 quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) over the last two seasons. But he has been, let's call it, substandard as a run defender, with dismal PFF grades fully backed up by the eye test.
Of course, being a second-round pick in 2023 also means Dexter is entering a contract year.
Ryan Poles has adroitly avoided a big potential Gervon Dexter headache
The general immediate reaction to the Dexter trade has been "What is Ryan Poles doing?" The Bears' interior defensive line is a question mark already, and it just got one player shallower as well as less talented.
However, an alternate view shows how the move makes a ton of sense.
The top of the defensive tackle market has been rising of late, with multiple big contracts around the league. If Dexter has a big 2026 season, he could easily command $20-$25 million per year on the open market next March. That should provide him ample motivation, of course, and the Falcons are likely to see how he performs this season before committing long-term.
If Dexter gets, as an example, double-digit sacks this season, agent Drew Rosenhaus will have a viable case to ask for the aforementioned $20-plus million a year in free agency on his client's behalf.
Of course, teams will have tape and data available to them to see how impactful Dexter actually was, and if he improved at all against the run. It's definitely possible a hypothetical 10-plus sacks will look pretty empty under the hood.
Beyond that, fair or not, any uptick in sacks or notable improvement as a run defender Dexter has this season should be subject to scrutiny. With a payday on the horizon if he produces at a high level, is it purely a "contract drive"? Would he revert back to his prior form as a run defender after getting paid?
The trade return for Dexter looks undeniably underwhelming. But if what feels likely to be a looming contract year surge comes, offloading the headache of determining if it's sustainable or not is worth whatever the return was.
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While it's never fun to see a talented player who could be very helpful traded away, let's not act like Dexter is irreplaceable.
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