When the Chicago Bears drafted Gervon Dexter in the 2nd round two months ago, multiple experts pointed out his significant athletic upside as something that never got enough attention. They even compared him to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Chris Jones. While the glimpses weren’t frequent, they were there. It was an indication that Dexter had the potential to become something far greater than he was at Florida. That is no doubt a big reason why GM Ryan Poles made him their second pick over other options.
However, the Jones comparison isn’t quite accurate. At least not according to Dexter’s former position coach. Sean Spencer spent a year with the defensive tackle last season. He quickly learned what made the kid special. He told Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago that the player people should think about as a ceiling isn’t Jones. It’s New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. Many of the strengths Dexter possesses fall right in line with what makes Lawrence such a force.
Gervon Dexter could follow a similar path.
People often forget the knock on Lawrence when he came out of college. They thought he was a pure nose tackle. He had flashes on tape, but most thought he’d become a great run defender and not much else. They were right for the first three years. Then in 2022, Lawrence evolved. He began dominating opponents as an interior pass rusher, posting 7.5 sacks and 28 quarterback hits. His mixture of size, length, and power was impossible to contain. He’d made things even worse by learning how to use his hands.
That is what Gervon Dexter is capable of. If anything, he’s even more dangerous. While Lawrence has the size advantage, Dexter is a better athlete. He’s quicker, has better range, and is more explosive. That is what the Bears figure to exploit moving forward. Head coach Matt Eberflus has already said the team is adjusting his stance and teaching him how to elongate his strides to maximize his burst. They’ve also worked to improve his lower body flexibility. Signs of progress have already surfaced in minicamps.
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If the Bears did indeed get their own version of Lawrence, this defense got a lot better.
