The Chicago Bears are interested in moving on from defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. before he hits free agency in March of 2027, but the franchise must walk a fine line with regards to the trade return it will accept.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the Dexter news via social media on Tuesday, August 25.
"Sources: The #Bears have had trade discussions involving DT Gervon Dexter, and there are multiple scenarios where a deal could get done sending him to a new team," Schultz reported via X. "Dexter, still just 24 years old, started all 17 games last season and has 13.5 career sacks and 42 QB hits. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract."
Dexter is coming off a career campaign in which he produced six sacks and six tackles for loss. Salaries for the DT position are exploding league-wide, and some projections put Dexter's earning potential at between $20-$25 million annually on a new deal if he plays well again in 2026.
The Bears probably can't afford that kind of salary for a middling to above-average interior defender, and clearly the team isn't interested in paying that kind of money to Dexter or it wouldn't be shopping him. However, the Bears also can't afford not to get back at least a Day 2 draft pick in return for Dexter if they do ultimately move him.
Bears' defensive line already deficient at full strength
Chicago had one of the worst defensive fronts last season against both the pass and the run. The Bears were among the least effective teams in the league in pass-rush win rate and quick pressure rate, while also surrendering approximately five yards per carry to opposing offenses.
But Chicago chose not to draft an edge-rusher or make a big splash at defensive end or defensive tackle in free agency. The one meaningful move the Bears did make on the line was selecting Jordan van den Berg out of Georgia Tech in the sixth round.
The team has to be high on van den Berg if it's willing to seek a trade partner for Dexter, as van den Berg will likely slot in as a starter alongside Grady Jarrett based on how training camp and the preseason have gone. But Jarrett could also be out in Chicago next offseason after he struggled during his first year in the Windy City in 2025.
In either case, Chicago is going to need to rebuild its defensive front through next year's draft. The Bears still possess all of their own picks in Rounds 1-4, and adding a Round 2 or Round 3 selection in return for Dexter would put the Bears in excellent position to stack defensive talent on rookie contracts in a loaded 2027 draft class.
A second-rounder is most likely better than what Chicago is going to find for Dexter on the open market, and the team could potentially let him go for as little as a fourth-round pick, though that would almost certainly hurt to some degree over the next 17 games. That said, if the Bears can hold out for a third-round asset from a DT-needy team like the Las Vegas Raiders, that could prove the sweet spot.
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