The Chicago Bears got some heat from fans when they selected Gervon Dexter in the 2nd round this past April. It wasn’t hard to understand. The Florida product wasn’t known for being a dynamic presence in the middle as a pass rusher. His sack and pressure numbers weren’t impressive. His primary value was as a run defender. There was no way he’d solve the Bears’ biggest defensive issue of interior pressure. However, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus maintained a long-term outlook.
They felt Dexter had untapped potential. Evaluations revealed a player with great size, outstanding power, and near-freakish athleticism. If his fundamentals could be polished and his stance shifted, he might become a more explosive presence. It took time, but results from their efforts have begun bearing fruit. Dexter has the second-highest pass rush grade against one-on-one blocks on the team. In 47 snaps against single blocks, he has six pressures. All of them have come in the last three games.
If that weren’t enough, he’s still very much a fixture in run defense. Chicago is 5th in the league defending the run. Dexter is a crucial part of that success.
Gervon Dexter is still only scratching the surface.
His improvement is evident. The hand-fighting is better. He’s learning how to use his length and power to maximum advantage. Yet the crazy part is he’s still far from polished. His technique isn’t there yet, and he still has a habit of playing too high with his pad level. More seasoned blockers are taking advantage of this. None of it is surprising. He wasn’t going to transform into a superstar overnight. The Bears knew he was a project that would take time and patience. Yet to see results this early is a terrific sign.
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He isn’t the only one, too. Fellow draft pick Zacch Pickens is also showing flashes of progress. His athleticism and explosiveness have given them nice moments of interior pressure and tackles for a loss. There is no telling where the ceiling of Gervon Dexter is yet. His talent is extensive enough to believe he could be a future Pro Bowler. As always, nobody can predict when or if the light fully goes on for a player. One thing is clear, though. Dexter is putting in the work, and it’s paying off.
