RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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More help is on the way for an Atlanta Falcons defensive front in search of reinforcements. The Chicago Bears are set to trade defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr . to Atlanta in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick, according to ESPN/NFL Network .
The Falcons lost two rising edge rushers this summer when Jalon Walker suffered a torn ACL and James Pearce Jr . received an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. While Dexter is not a one-for-one replacement for either of those second-year defenders, he is a noted pass rusher from the interior defensive line. In both of his years as a starter in Chicago, Dexter posted at least five sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham played a role in drafting Dexter when he served as assistant general manager in Chicago in 2023. Dexter was a second-rounder and is about to play the final year of his rookie contract.
Headed to Chicago in return, Phillips adds depth to a Bears secondary that underwent significant personnel changes this offseason. He missed all but one game last year with a triceps injury but was a regular contributor over his first two years in the league and made seven starts across those seasons. Like Dexter, Phillips is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
That the Bears secured a fifth-round pick in the deal means that they are back to their full complement of selections for 2027. In March, they traded their own fifth-rounder to the New England Patriots for center Garrett Bradbury .
Dexter is projected as a potential third-year starter for the Bears in 2026, so in order for this trade to make much sense, general manager Ryan Poles must have confidence in the depth pieces he acquired on the defensive line this offseason. Those include free agents Neville Gallimore , Kentavius Street and James Lynch plus sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg . The last of that bunch garnered rave reviews in training camp and seems to be pushing for a potential starting job.
Even if van den Berg forces his way into the lineup, though, Dexter's absence could be noticeable. While he did not develop the way the Bears might have hoped when they used a second-round pick on him, and while he offered little in run defense, he was a serviceable starter with a proven ability to disrupt the passer. Chicago is swapping that out for depth at cornerback.
In an ideal situation, Phillips would settle in at nickel as a replacement for Kyler Gordon , who missed 14 games last season and is still battling a calf issue. The hiccup with Phillips is that his skill set is more suited for the boundary, while his size (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) makes him a better fit at nickel. The Bears are already set at cornerback with two-time Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and fourth-year starter Tyrique Stevenson .
At any rate, to get a fifth-round pick back is a welcome addition to Chicago's draft arsenal, considering they just parted ways with their own.
Dexter is likely better suited as a rotational player than a starter, and that is the job he will fill in Atlanta. The Falcons are already set on the top line of their depth chart, but can use all of the pass-rushing help they can get while Pearce and Walker are on the sidelines. Dexter can enter on passing downs and make the occasional start.
Giving up a fifth-rounder and an asset in the defensive backfield is a notable price to pay for a role-player, but it is not as though Phillips was an integral part of the secondary. He was a candidate to miss the roster entirely, in fact, and Atlanta got something in return for him.
Of the three pieces in this trade, Dexter probably has the highest upside. He appeared to reach a ceiling in Chicago, but perhaps Cunningham -- as someone who was involved in drafting him -- still sees more in his profile.
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