The Atlanta Falcons acquired defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. from the Chicago Bears on Sunday in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. The roster-cut-day trade addresses Atlanta’s interior defensive line needs while sending secondary depth back to Chicago.
Falcons Bolster Interior Pass Rush After Summer Losses
The Atlanta Falcons shore up their defensive line on cut-down day by trading for Gervon Dexter Sr. from the Chicago Bears. Atlanta moved quickly to add interior reinforcements following a summer that saw the team lose two rising edge rushers when Jalon Walker suffered a torn ACL and James Pearce Jr. received an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, according to CBS Sports.
While Dexter is not a direct edge replacement, he brings a proven interior pass-rush presence. Over his two seasons as a starter in Chicago, the 24-year-old defensive tackle accumulated 13.5 career sacks and at least 11 quarterback hits in each campaign. New Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham played a role in drafting Dexter during his time as the Bears’ assistant general manager in 2023, when Chicago selected the Florida product in the second round.
Dexter enters the final year of his rookie contract. Trade speculation had swirled around the lineman since the spring due to his desire for a contract extension, with Yahoo Sports reporting that heavy market interest also included the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints before Atlanta finalized the deal over the weekend.
Bears Add Secondary Depth and Recover Draft Capital
In return for Dexter, the Chicago Bears acquired cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. Phillips, also 24, was selected by Atlanta in the fourth round of the 2023 draft out of Utah and made seven starts across his first two seasons. He missed most of last year due to a triceps injury sustained in Week 4.
The acquisition helps patch together a Chicago secondary hit hard by injuries during the preseason. Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon has missed practice with a calf injury, while other defensive backs faced minor training camp setbacks. The incoming fifth-round pick also restores Chicago’s draft capital after the team traded its original 2027 fifth-rounder to the New England Patriots for center Garrett Bradbury in March.
Navigating Defensive Line Changes in Chicago
Trading Dexter carries risk for a Chicago defense that struggled significantly against the run and finished near the bottom of the league in pass-rush win rate last season. Dexter started all 17 regular-season games plus two playoff appearances last year, finishing second on the team with six sacks.
Bears coach Ben Johnson noted earlier in the week that the team had challenged Dexter regarding his technique and consistency.
Johnson added that when he does it, it’s a beautiful thing, because he is a strong, he is a big man and he’s willing to run guys down sideline to sideline
while noting that consistency remained the primary goal.
With Dexter departing—having recently missed practice due to a hamstring injury—the Bears will lean on offseason additions Kentavius Street and Neville Gallimore alongside rookie Jordan van den Berg. Coaches have praised the Georgia Tech rookie’s motor and athleticism as he worked his way into first-team repetitions during training camp.
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