Bears trade Gervon Dexter to Falcons for Clark Phillips III
The Chicago Bears traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round draft pick, ESPN reported Saturday. The swap reshapes both defenses roughly two weeks before the 2026 regular season opener and ends Dexter's tenure in Chicago.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter confirmed the deal, which follows trade rumors that intensified after Dexter left practice early last week. The Bears drafted Dexter in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft; he started all 17 games in 2025 with 44 combined tackles and six sacks.
Key Takeaways
- The Falcons receive Gervon Dexter Sr.; the Bears get Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick.
- Dexter led Chicago interior linemen with six sacks in 2025; no other Bear DT had more than 1.5.
- Chicago signals confidence in rookie DT Jordan van den Berg by trading a projected starter.
- Clark Phillips III adds secondary depth for a Bears unit dealing with offseason injuries.
- Atlanta adds interior pass-rush help ahead of final roster cuts.
Why Did the Bears Trade Gervon Dexter?
Dexter was in the final year of his contract, and Yahoo Sports reported the Bears no longer viewed him as part of their long-term plans. Despite six sacks last season, he struggled against the run and was never an ideal fit in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme.
Chicago finished tied for the seventh-fewest sacks and owned the sixth-worst run defense in the NFL in 2025. Trading Dexter is also a bold vote of confidence in sixth-round rookie Jordan van den Berg, who has impressed in preseason with multiple pressures each game, per Sports Illustrated.
Who Is Clark Phillips III and What Does He Bring?
Clark Phillips III enters his fourth NFL season with three years of experience and seven starts in 28 games, according to Yahoo Sports. Most of his snaps have come at outside cornerback, though he has also played in the slot and at safety.
The Bears needed depth in the secondary after injuries this offseason, and Phillips addresses that need without sacrificing future capital beyond a fifth-round pick. For more breaking roster moves, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
What Does This Trade Mean for the Falcons?
Atlanta needed more firepower along the interior defensive line, and Dexter's pass-rush ability should help. He recorded 11 sacks over his last two seasons with Chicago and recovered four fumbles, per Sports Illustrated.
Dexter also has a connection to Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who previously served as the Bears' assistant general manager. The timing aligns with NFL roster cuts, as teams finalize 53-man rosters before Week 1. Full details were reported by Yahoo Sports.
How Does This Affect the Bears' Future Plans?
Trading a consensus starter with only two weeks until the season opener ranks among Ryan Poles' boldest moves as Bears general manager, Sports Illustrated noted. With Dexter gone, only Darnell Wright from the 2023 draft class is likely to remain beyond 2026.
The Bears' defense must now prove van den Berg and the remaining linemen can replace Dexter's production. Chicago's 2023 class looks bleak, but later draft classes and the Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams pairing remain the franchise's longer-term foundation.