The Chicago Bears are heading into next week’s draft, and there are several things they could do with the No. 25 overall pick. While the Bears could land an impact player with their first-rounder, they could also use it in a blockbuster deal to acquire Dexter Lawrence or another available superstar to help take another step forward after winning the NFC North last season.
These things are exciting for fans, but they may be nerve-wracking for Gervon Dexter Sr. While the former second-round pick is coming off a 2025 campaign where he recorded a career-high six sacks, his future in Chicago may be determined in the next week.
After avoiding trade rumors at the combine coming to fruition, Dexter could find himself facing a different reality soon, and his world could be flipped upside down when the Bears are on the clock.
Bears’ Draft Plans May Spell Trouble for Gervon Dexter Sr.
The defensive tackle situation is one to monitor for the Bears entering the draft. Grady Jarrett was a disappointment in his first year in Chicago, but his three-year, $43.5 million contract is structured for at least one more season with the Bears. Second-year defensive tackle Shemar Turner’s stock has also taken a beating this offseason with the free-agent additions of Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch. But Dexter may be in the most fluid situation of all.
Dexter is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there hasn’t been a report of significant talks on an extension. While Pro Football Focus credited him with a career-high 43 pressures to go with his six sacks, he also took a massive step back against the run, with his missed tackle rate jumping from 8.0 percent in 2024 to 13.7 percent last season and his run stop rate dropping from 6.4 percent to 4.4 percent.
The numbers against the run aren’t great, but teams will typically pay more for a pass-rusher than they will for a run stuffer. Bryan Perez of BearsTalk projected that Dexter could earn a four-year, $54 million contract with $27 million guaranteed. For a player that earned an Over The Cap valuation of $8.3 million, the Bears may decide to find someone younger and cheaper to replace Dexter, and that’s where the draft comes into play.
The Bears seem to have made the defensive line their priority, with four linemen part of their top 30 visits per NFL Trade Rumors. While Missouri’s Zion Young is an edge rusher, the other three have the ability to play inside, which could further complicate Dexter’s bid to stay in Chicago for the long haul.
NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft has the Bears addressing the problem by taking Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald with the 25th overall pick. But Dexter could also be sweating it out if they added another one of the interior linemen they hosted for a visit, including Iowa State’s Domonique Orange and Washington’s Anterio Thompson.
This could be a long-term replacement for Jarrett if he doesn’t perform well next season. But it also could be writing on the wall for Dexter after general manager Ryan Poles praised Turner as he enters his second season. It could all just be the typical smoke screen that teams give out this time of year. But with Dexter looking to get paid, there’s a real chance he could be less than thrilled with some of the Bears’ additions in next week’s draft.
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