Head coach Ben Johnson said the Chicago Bears have an interior defensive line that isn’t getting enough attention. This is fair since the trio of Jordan Van Den Berg, Neville Gallimore, and James Lynch have all looked good in the preseason. It was assumed that two of those three would land on the roster alongside Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett going into the season. That assumption may have been flawed. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bears have quietly been having trade discussions involving Dexter for some time.
This might seem shocking at first. Dexter had 6 sacks last season, finishing second on the team behind Montez Sweat. Why trade him? There are a few reasons. For one, he isn’t the best fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. The Bears’ defensive coordinator prefers defensive tackles who are quick and explosive off the ball. Dexter is neither. There is also the contract situation. This will be his last season before becoming a free agent in 2027. If the Bears have no plans to extend him, and it’s looking that way, then flipping him to another team makes sense.
Gervon Dexter absolutely has value.
Contract situation aside, he is still quite young for somebody with three years of experience and coming off his most productive season. Of course, teams would be interested. He is a solid football player who would fit well in other systems. The trick is figuring out his value. Based on the age, production, health, and contract factors, the Bears are likely looking at a 3rd round pick in return for the defensive tackle. A 2nd would be possible if he were under control for more years, but that isn’t the case. Unless a team is desperate, a 3rd feels like the sweet spot.
There is also the possibility they could do a player-for-player swap. Maybe the Bears flip Gervon Dexter to another team willing to unload someone in a different position of need. A recent example saw the Tennessee Titans send big nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in exchange for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. Is there an edge rusher, left tackle, safety, or cornerback out there that the Bears like? Maybe they can pry Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh.
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It’s unfortunate that things have come to this.
Alas, this is what can happen when you change coaching staff. If Matt Eberflus were still around, there is no question Dexter would be in line for a payday. Once Allen took over, the priorities in personnel changed. When that happens, players previously considered safe become uncertain. That is what happened with Dexter. He just doesn’t fit the mold of what this staff wants. While he was productive last season, he wasn’t quite disruptive enough. The 6 sacks masked a rather pedestrian 43 pressures. That was good for 20th in the league last season among defensive tackles.
Van Den Berg’s ascent over the past three weeks undoubtedly plays a role in this decision. The Bears are truly excited about the rookie from Georgia Tech. His explosiveness is something they’ve been missing. A foursome of him, Jarrett, Gallimore, and Lynch should be plenty adequate. Remember, the Bears only have six picks in next year’s draft. Flipping a player they have no intention of bringing back to bring that number up makes sense.
