The Chicago Bears traded former second-round draft pick Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback depth and a Day 3 pick. Find out more about this latest trade.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Thursday that defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. didn't travel with the team to Nashville because of a hamstring injury that he sustained in last Tuesday's training camp practice.
That same day there were trade rumors involving Dexter.
Those rumors became reality on Sunday morning. According to ESPN's Adam Shefter, the Bears traded Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick.
General manager Ryan Poles added interior defensive line depth this offseason, signing Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street and James Lynch in free agency. In the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Jordan van den Berg from Georgia Tech.
The rookie has made massive strides over the summer, working his way up from the backups to playing first-team reps against Caleb Williams and the starting offense.
Johnson called the interior defensive line an underrated part of the team, and when the Bears' head coach was asked about van den Berg recently, he couldn't help but smile.
"He's a beast," Johnson said. "This guy ... he's an incredible athlete. He's still learning the game of football to a degree, and yet it's amazing what he brings to the table. He's been the same guy every single day. Smile on his face. He loves football. He loves the process. ..."
Dexter, a former second-round pick in 2023, played in 49 games over three seasons with the Bears, registering 115 total tackles, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three passes defensed. He played in all 17 games last season and posted a career-high six sacks.
He was in the last year of his rookie contract, so you have to wonder how much that played a factor in Dexter being traded. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was on the Bears' staff when the team drafted Dexter out of Florida.
Phillips provides the Bears' with a depth piece in the secondary. The Falcons selected the 5-foot-9, 185 pound cornerback in the fourth round in 2023 out of Utah -- Jaylon Johnson's alma mater.
Philips tore his tricep in Week 4 last season, ending his third year in the league. He's played in 28 games, accumulating 63 total tackles, 10 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception.
He has primarily played on the outside in his NFL career, 673 snaps compared to 107 in the box and just 36 in the slot. The Bears have had injuries all over the secondary, dating back to last season, so adding depth helps prevent the team from running into similar issues this season.
In Dennis Allen's defense, players are expected to know multiple positions, so it wouldn't be surprising if Phillips gets looks at both cornerback spots as he start the acclimation process on his new team.
Just 14 days separate the Bears from the Week 1 road matchup against the Carolina Panthers to kick off the 2026 regular season.
