Trading Gervon Dexter was a surprise by the Chicago Bears. While it was becoming common knowledge that the team would likely not retain him with a second contract, it still felt like they could’ve used his help in 2026. After all, he finished second on the team with 6 sacks last season. However, general manager Ryan Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen felt the depth at defensive tackle was strong enough to justify the move. They wanted to get something in return for Dexter before it was too late. They eventually settled on a deal with the Atlanta Falcons, sending him south in exchange for a 5th round pick and cornerback Clark Phillips.
The draft pick was expected. The player was not. Most people expected Dexter to strictly fetch draft compensation. However, if we’ve learned anything about Poles during his time as GM, it’s that he is always open to going player-for-player in deals. We saw that with the D.J. Moore trade in 2023. So why Phillips? Poles explained what led the Bears to accept his inclusion.
“He’s definitely going to add depth to our corner room. We like, from the tape that we watched, his man-coverage skills. Short-area quickness is really good, speed is really good, sticky in coverage.”
Cornerback has become a problem spot for the Bears due to recent health issues. Kyler Gordon still hasn’t returned from a calf issue. Tyrique Stevenson was nicked at times throughout camp. Cam Lewis is busy helping out at safety. They needed some insurance.
Dennis Allen clearly has plans for Clark Phillips.
One thing about the Bears’ defensive coordinator that has become a fundamental truth over the years is that he’s a big believer in coverage first. While many coaches preach the need for a strong pass rush above all, Allen believes that doesn’t matter if the secondary can’t cover well enough to force quarterbacks to their second or third read. That is why his teams have often invested heavily at cornerback. In hindsight, the structure of this trade shouldn’t have been a surprise. It’s pretty clear Allen already has plans for Phillips.
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“Actually the majority of the tape we saw, he played a little bit more outside. And yet I see him fitting into that nickel mix a little bit. We’ll see. How quickly does he pick everything up? And then kind of go from there.”
While the cornerback spent most of his NFL career on the boundary in Atlanta, some felt he wasn’t being used according to his strengths. After all, Clark Phillips made a name for himself in Utah playing the nickel position. He was highly effective in the slot, showcasing a great mix of intelligence and toughness. The Bears have been at the mercy of Gordon’s health problems since last season. He missed 14 games in 2025 and will miss at least another four to start 2026. Adding Phillips softens that blow somewhat.
The Bears now at least have some flexibility.
Bringing Phillips into the fold allowed Lewis to focus on helping at safety, which might be his more natural position anyway. Xavier Woods tweaked his hamstring a couple of weeks ago and is still trying to catch up on the defensive scheme anyway. Now you have a foursome of Stevenson, Jaylon Johnson, rookie Malik Muhammad, and Phillips at cornerback. That gives you a nice blend of youth and veteran experience. It might not be a star-studded group, but it has the characteristics this coaching staff was looking for.
Phillips is still only 24 years old. There is plenty of time for him to overcome the failed launch in Atlanta. The Bears likely believe he was misused by the organization during his time there. Allen is a defensive backs specialist, and he’s aided by Al Harris, one of the best in the business. If that tandem can’t get Phillips playing up to his potential, nobody can. Either way, the trade was worth the risk in their eyes.
