This is a critical season for Gervon Dexter Sr., and the Chicago Bears’ defensive tackle has certainly taken notice of some other situations around the league.
It was a similar story for the 6-foot-6 defensive lineman heading into last season, too. Dexter finished second on the Bears in sacks during the 2025 regular season, but the group’s pass rush and run defense were lacking as a unit.
This season could lead to a pivotal spring in 2027.
Bears’ Gervon Dexter Sr. Sends Message to NFC Rival
Bears DT Gervon Dexter Sr. Reaches Out to Seahawks EDGE Derick Hall
The Bears selected Dexter with the 53rd overall pick of the 2023 draft. That was 16 selections after the Seattle Seahawks took edge defender Derick Hall. On Tuesday, Hall signed a three-year, $42 million contract extension.
“Congrats gang,” Dexter said, tagging Hall in a post on his Instagram story on June 2 that also included a graphic from ESPN announcing the deal.
The connection between the two is unclear.
Dexter is a former Florida Gator who is represented by Drew Rosenhaus and Rosenhaus Sports after changing from Klutch Sports this offseason. Hall is represented by National Sports Agency and went to Auburn. They do not share a hometown, either, leaving their draft connection as the most obvious.
The Bears will visit the Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl last season, with Hall starting three of 14 games played, logging 30 total tackles and 2.0 sacks during the regular season.
He tacked on another 5 stops and 3.0 sacks in the playoffs en route to the title.
Hall has 105 combined tackles, has 10.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, and 1 touchdown in his regular-season career, starting 17 of 48 games played. Dexter has tallied 115 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries during his time in the NFL. He has started 33 of 49 games.
They play different positions, which does not help Dexter’s case, since DTs make far less on average than EDGEs.
However, Dexter is one of four players with a stat line as good or better than what he has posted since entering the league, per Stathead. He is one of two interior linemen on that list, joining Zach Sieler of the Miami Dolphins. EDGE rushers T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Rashan Gary of the Dallas Cowboys are the other two players.
Dexter and the Bears will visit Hall in the Seahawks in Week 8 this coming season.
Gervon Dexter Sr. Heading Into Contract Season With Bears
Dexter is in the final year of his four-year, $6.7 million rookie scale contract. He is also in an interesting situation, where he has been productive, and the front office that drafted him–led by general manager Ryan Poles–remains in place.
At the same time, the Bears’ coaching staff has turned over multiple times.
Dexter is not the prototypical D-tackle in a Dennis Allen-led defense. That does not mean he cannot or has not fit.
It is, however, another layer to the Bears’ pending decision on Dexter.
Unlike a first-round pick, who would have a fifth-year option to keep him around for another season if they were unsure, Dexter will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason. That is, barring a new deal or Poles and Co. using the franchise tag, which seems unlikely.
Dexter has a strong argument for being deserving of a new deal. Meanwhile, the Bears have reasons to hold off on investing further in a unit that has not lived up to their expectations so far.
That leaves Dexter as one of several high-profile players to monitor for the Bears in 2026.
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