The Chicago Bears hinted that a roster shakeup might be coming this offseason. It is possible nobody thought it might be this extensive. Already, there have been strong rumors that Tyson Bagent and D.J. Moore could be traded. Tremaine Edmunds was given permission to seek the same. Now things have reached the realm of shocking as insider Jordan Schultz revealed that teams are calling the Bears about the availability of defensive tackle Gervon Dexter. This certainly isn’t a name anybody expected.
The former 2nd-round pick was the team’s best interior player last season, racking up a career-high 6 sacks. He’s only 24 years old. Some may find it difficult to imagine why the Bears would entertain such calls. There are a few reasons. For one, Dexter is a free agent next year. Given where things stand, it doesn’t feel likely that the team will put up the necessary money to extend him. The reason why goes smoothly into the second part of the trade discussions.
Dexter isn’t really a great fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. The Bears’ defensive coordinator has long preferred lighter, quicker defensive tackles. Dexter, at 326 lbs, is neither of those things.
Gervon Dexter is in an awkward spot.
There is no question that he is a productive player. Most would agree the pick for him was a success. He’s become a solid starter for the Bears’ defense. Unfortunately, he’s been caught in a tough situation. His contract is coming up, and now he plays under a coaching staff that didn’t draft him. Is he good enough for the coaches to look past that detail? The unfortunate answer is no. As decent as his seasons in Chicago have been, he’s never stood out as a top-tier interior pass rusher in that time. He also hasn’t been much of a run defender.
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| Season | Total Pressures | DT Pressure Ranking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29 | 45th overall | Recorded 29 pressures in a rotational rookie role, with 20 of those coming in the final nine games. |
| 2024 | 39 | 24th overall | Finished 24th among over 200 players at the position in total pressures forced. |
| 2025 | 44 | 18th overall | Ranked 18th out of 134 qualifying interior defenders in pressures, according to PFF. |
When you think about it, the incentive to keep Gervon Dexter just isn’t strong enough. Under normal circumstances, the Bears would probably look to extend him. He’s done enough to warrant it. Sadly, the lack of cap space makes it difficult. Trading him would net them a draft pick and allow them to avoid handing out a big contract when they already have multiple others on the books (Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett, and Dayo Odeyingbo). From there, Allen will be free to remake the position as he sees fit.
Expect the Bears to be highly active at defensive tackle.
There were already whispers that the team would likely take one early in the draft. Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he felt the edge rusher position was deeper than the defensive tackle position in this class. That makes you think they might pounce on one early. There are certainly some intriguing options. Peter Woods of Clemson and Christen Miller of Georgia seem to fit Allen’s preferred profile with their sleeker builds and explosiveness. Tyler Onyedim of Texas A&M and Grace Halton of Oklahoma could be possibilities in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.
Now it’s important to note the Bears are not guaranteed to trade Dexter. They’re receiving calls at this point. Whether they get an offer they deem acceptable is another story. They already have question marks in the middle with Andrew Billings and Chris Williams becoming free agents. Poles won’t weaken the position even further unless the compensation is worth it. We’re probably talking about a day two pick of some kind. Expect a move, if there is one, sometime before free agency.
