The Chicago Bears traded Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
The news came from The Schultz Report’s Jordan Schultz. It was the culmination of days’ worth of speculation, including a rumor about discussions, an injury that popped up right around the same time, and some cryptic messages–or at least timing–from Dexter himself, who has reacted to the trade.
[red heart emoji],” on to the next Dexter captioned a picture of himself in Bears uniform leaving the field after a game that he shared to his Instagram story on August 30.
Right before that one, he posted an image of himself sitting on the bench at the Cincinnati Bengals stadium alongside Bears EDGEs Montez Sweat and Austin Booker.
Bears Add Falcons’ Clark Phillips in Gervon Dexter Sr. Trade
Gervon Dexter Sr. to Falcons, Clark Phillips to Bears in Trade
In return, the Bears received defensive backfield help in corner Clark Phillips III, who is a former fourth-round pick, as well as draft capital from the Falcons for their former now-starter. The Athletic’s Jonathan Jordan was the first to report on the compensation.
Bears get:
- Clark Philips III
- 2027 fifth-round pick
Falcons get:
- Gervon Dexter Sr.
“A possible trade candidate for practically all offseason, Dexter is finally headed elsewhere,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo posted in reaction.
ESPN’s Field Yates posted, “Dexter lands in Atlanta with GM Ian Cunningham, who was hired away from the Bears this offseason,” adding, “The 25-year old brings interior pass rush production. He’s extension eligible going into the final year of his rookie deal.”
That last part was a key aspect with the Bears facing a financial crunch.
Bears Get Cornerback Help, Clear Path for Impressive Rookie & Cap Concern
Phillips, 24, was a fourth-round pick, taken 113th overall by the Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, Atlanta employed former Bears GM Ryan Pace, now of the Minnesota Vikings.
Phillips is a smaller corner at 5-foot-9–one who has still played on the perimeter than in the slot, per Pro Football Focus–with seven starts in 28 regular-season contests. He has 63 total tackles, 10 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, and 1 interception in his career.
This trade reunites him with Grady Jarrett and 2026 free agent signing Kentavius Street.
It is unclear how the Bears view Phillips as a corner, but he is also a contributor on special teams, where they have also been thinned out by injuries.
This move clears the way for Jordan van den Berg in the starting lineup. A sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, of all places, in the 2025 NFL Draft, van den Berg has seen increasing work with the Bears starting group. That includes in Dexter’s place alongside Jarrett, even before amid the now-former Bear was sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
Bears Pull Plug on Former Second-Round Pick
Bears head coach Ben Johnson recently spoke about Dexter still seeking the kind of consistency they want, and how good it looks when he does as he has been coached.
Those comments, as critical as they have been, were not exactly out of character for how Johnson speaks about all of his players. That is, with a mix of optimism and critical honesty a common theme. And Dexter, a second-rounder taken 53rd overall in 2023, admitted as much.
It does, however, contrast with how Johnson has raved about van den Berg, calling him a “beast.”
The Bears defensive line has been much-maligned. Coming off a rough 2025 campaign, returning most of the same pieces seemed like a fool’s errand. The Bears signing Street and fellow vet addition Neville Gallimore should have been more of a tell, though.
They, like van den Berg, are closer to what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has preferred.
Dexter, to his credit, has increased his statistical production in every season since entering the league. He now gets a fresh start that is closer to his home state of Florida.
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