The Chicago Bears might be quietly entering a tense point with former second-round pick Gervon Dexter. He is entering his fourth NFL season, and while he has progressed every year, it has not been quite enough to earn a long-term extension with the team.
Chicago Bears have tough decision to make on Gervon Dexter
However, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report warns that if the team does not get a deal done with Dexter before the season, the chances of it costing them in the long run are not worth it.
"Currently, the top six interior defensive linemen are earning at least $25.5 million per year (h/t Over the Cap). Even if Dexter just maintains that production in a prominent role on the defensive line, he could command a deal north of $25 million annually when teams tend to overpay in free agency."Moe Moton
This is an interesting point by Moton. As things stand, Dexter might not be at that level of player. However, because so many players are eclipsing that tier of contract, the salary cap keep rising, and Dexter continues to play better, there is a real chance that any deal coming in below $25M per year will eventually look like a bargain.
So, the Bears would be wise to lock up Dexter for under $25M before he develops into something more than that.
Dexter played rotationally in his rookie season and earned just 2.5 sacks. However, he started to take strides in his second season. He produced five sacks on 39 pressures. His improvement continued in year four. Dexter recorded six sacks on 42 pressures.
The issue is that the stretches of consistency come and go. When he plays at a high level, he looks like he belongs with the top interior rushers in the NFL. However, his stats are only inching closer to those top lineman at this point because he goes on long stretches where you forget he is on the field.
So, the Bears could be in a spot where they extend him to a big deal, and they still feel a need to pay a big name defensive lineman becuase the room is not complete.
On the flip side, if Dexter does produce more in 2026, and the team does not have a deal done with him, he has no prerogative to stay with the team. His production and age will have teams interested. While he can negotiate with the Bears, he can cause a bidding war on the open market. That would drive his price out of the Bears range
If the team feels they need more on the line with Dexter, they might be the worst group in the NFL without him. So, the consequences of not extending him might outweigh being saddled with a bad deal.
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