The Chicago Bears defense has been in shambles this offseason, and the front office has had their work cut out for them in putting things back together. They've done the big and obvious moves like drafting Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad, but they seem to be relying on squeaky wheels in key positions. The Bears are once again headed into a season with questions surrounding the edge rusher position, and other various positions are in competition for a starting role.
One key anchor at their position has been Gervon Dexter Sr, a 25 year old defensive tackle drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2023 draft. He's been steady on a defense that's been wobbly for years. Dexter was recently featured on a Bleacher Report list of players deserving of a big extension.
Gervon Dexter has become one of the Bears' most important long-term building blocks
The Bears had a spectacular 2025 season. The defense was not why. It's as simple as that. The only thing the Bears 2025 defense had any real bragging power in was takeaways, and that's something that's incredibly difficult to replicate with the same players or not. Ryan Poles and the front office have spent the last four years doing everything they can to build the foundational pieces of the team from within, and that includes with Dexter.
Dexter's sack count has gone up every season he's been a Bear, something rarely seen in a tackle so young. It's time for the Bears to make their position on Dexter to be known and to sign him to an extension like the Bleacher Report article says. It's not as imperative as the article makes it sound, though, and the extension should match his value.
To put things into perspective, Jalen Carter of the Eagles is frequently hyped as one of the best young defensive tackles in the game. Through three season, Carter has a few more tackles than Dexter, but they're both boasting 13.5 sacks across three seasons. Additionally, Dexter has played in more games.
Dexter may not have reached the level of the NFL's elite defensive tackles yet, but his development has given the Bears every reason to believe he can get there. If that progression continues in 2026, an extension won't be a difficult decision for Ryan Poles and the front office.
| More Bears News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google