Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. and new Utah Jazz point guard Walter Clayton Jr. are close friends. Naturally, when the latter heard his name called during the 2025 NBA Draft, Dexter was among those to celebrate.
Clayton was selected with the No. 18 overall pick, but his draft rights were already dealt to the Jazz in a deal that cannot be completed until the league’s moratorium ends on July 6.
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At any rate, the Bears’ young D-lineman, Dexter, is ecstatic for one of his “best friends.” Dexter took to social media to celebrate Clayton, who won a national championship at their alma mater, the University of Florida, in his final season.
“We use to talk about these days now its reality,” Dexter posted on X on June 25.
Dexter also shared a graphic of Clayton after the pick was made, captioning it with a goat (Greatest of All Time) emoji.
Dexter spoke about his joy seeing Clayton (and their Gators) win the championship.
“It was crazy, man. I was screaming at my screen a lot, bro. That’s one of my best friends, my little bro growing up,” Dexter told reporters on June 4 after practice during the Bears’ offseason program. “Just to see him get some of the success that he has, and even more that’s coming to him, is – it was a blessing to see, for sure.”
Clayton was once a safety, but chose basketball instead, a decision Dexter said did not surprise him.
“I’m not surprised just because I would try to get him to come every time like, ‘Let’s go do some football work,’” Dexter told media members. “And he like, ‘Nah, I’m going to the gym.’ So, I wasn’t surprised.”
Gervon Dexter One to Watch in Bears Training Camp
Dexter and the Bears’ other veterans will report for training camp on June 22. When they do, how Dexter is deployed will be worth monitoring.
The Bears return starting nose tackle Andrew Billings, and they signed Grady Jarrett in free agency this offseason. Jarrett spoke highly about Dexter, but the former Atlanta Falcons star figures to occupy one starting spot.
Billings could be the other, as it appeared he was during the offseason program.
The Bears have Dexter’s draft mate, Zacch Pickens, who returned for the final organized team activity before they dispersed for summer break, among a slew of reserves.
That group will likely need to prove themselves with the Bears spending a second-round pick on former Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears’ depth makes projecting Dexter’s role a speculative exercise.