‘Florida Water’: Bears Rookie Duo Continues Promising Trend for GM Ryan Poles

Bears Rookies

The Chicago Bears are 7-9 on the season, hardly anything to write home about. Unless, of course, you consider they began the season 0-4.

Their journey along the way has been anything but linear. But they can hang their hat on continued progression that is showing up more every week, and there may be no two better examples of that than Gervon Dexter Sr. and Tyrique Stevenson, the Bears? second-round picks in this year?s draft.

Both hail from Florida, with teammate Kyler Gordon calling out the “Florida water”? connection.

Their hometowns are over three hours apart, though. They also went to rival schools, with Dexter attending Florida and Stevenson returning home to the University of Miami after two years at Georgia. Despite all those competing factors, they have helped key this surge from the defense.

Bears Rookies Gervon Dexter Sr. and Tyrique Stevenson Continue Promising Early Trend for Ryan Poles

Gervon Dexter in for ‘Really Good Career’

In the Bears? 37-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, Dexter finished with a pair of sacks (technically 1.5), giving him 4.0 total on the season.

All of them have come in the last four weeks.

?It feels good getting going, getting that confidence rolling, and play playing fast,? Dexter told Clocker Sports after Sunday?s win. ?I want to dominate a little more in the run game and have my presence there a little more, so that?s one thing I?m gonna work on.?

Dexter, the No. 53 overall pick in April, has already drawn praise from his coaches and teammates, including veteran defensive tackle Justin Jones, who believes the 22-year-old Dexter is in for a ?really good? career.

Stevenson, 23, was the No. 56 pick of the draft. He has four interceptions in the last six weeks, including a two-pick performance against the Falcons.

?It feels good. Coming in with Rique, he set his goals that he wanted to do. It just feels good to be out there with him to help him get those, reach those goals, and just see him shine out there,? Dexter said. ?Felt good just to come in with a guy, with him also being a Florida guy as well.?

Tyrique Stevenson Locking Down Opposite Jaylon Johnson

Opposing quarterbacks have completed 48.7% of their passes in Stevenson?s direction over the last six games, per Pro Football Focus. Compare that to 74.2% over the first nine games.

He allowed just two completions for 28 yards on the six targets to come his versus the Falcons.

?The first [interception] was ? just trusting watching a lot of Jaylon Johnson film,? Stevenson told Clocker Sports. ?But just trusting that I know my job, and I know that I’m athletic enough to get to my job. So just trusting what I see and being athletic.?

?That’s what they brought me here for,? Stevenson continued. ?I got to start believing in myself and that’s really what this year?s been for me.?

Asked about Dexter, he was equally proud of their Florida connection.

?Feels good, we both from Florida. We both got an understanding of what we want,? Stevenson said. ?Just to see him go out and dominate, just see him see both of us start off slow this and just seeing us ramp it up just makes me excited for what next year?s gonna hold for the both of us.?

With Johnson and Jones both facing uncertain futures, the development of both Stevenson and Dexter, respectively, is critical. Even if the two respected and productive veterans return next season, they play premium positions at which teams can never have too much quality depth.

Ryan Poles? Draft Record Strong After 2 Classes

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about Dexter and Stevenson?s progression is that it is in line with what we saw from 2022 second-round picks Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon ? who also had an interception of Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke ? as the season wore on.

This season, they have been vital parts of the defense?s success. That much was clear by their struggles when the secondary was banged up earlier in the season.

Add to it Darnell Wright in the first round and Roschon Johnson in the fourth round this year.

Poles has, at least in the early going, shown an eye for quality pieces if not starters (perhaps even stars in Gordon?s case) at multiple stages of the draft. That is key for a roster looking for sustained success after trying and failing for decades to do just that.