The Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons completed a surprise deal Sunday, sending defensive lineman Gervon Dexter to Atlanta in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth‑round draft pick. The move came hours before NFL rosters must be trimmed to 53 players.
Trade details and roster timing
The transaction moves a fourth‑year defensive tackle off the Bears' depth chart and brings cornerback Clark Phillips III to Chicago as the teams finalized their rosters ahead of the regular season. The trade was confirmed as teams prepared for final training‑camp cuts, with the Bears sending Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Phillips and a fifth‑round draft pick.
Dexter was entering the final year of his rookie contract after Chicago selected him out of Florida in the second round of the 2023 draft. Cornerback Clark Phillips III is headed to the Bears as part of the return, along with a 2027 fifth‑round selection.
What Gervon Dexter brings to Atlanta
At 6‑foot‑6 and 326 pounds, Dexter arrives in Atlanta as an established interior presence. Over three seasons with the Bears he appeared in 51 of a possible 53 games, including playoff action, and after a single start as a rookie he started all 34 games he played across the last two seasons.
Dexter has been a consistent pass‑rush contributor from the interior, totaling 13½ sacks with Chicago, including a career‑high six sacks last season. His résumé with the Bears also includes 115 total tackles (10 for loss), 42 quarterback hits and four fumbles recovered.
The trade reunites Dexter with Ian Cunningham, the Falcons’ new general manager, who was Chicago’s assistant general manager in 2023 when the Bears drafted Dexter.
Injury note and what Phillips III represents
Head coach Ben Johnson told reporters that Dexter did not travel to Tennessee this week for joint practice and Saturday night’s preseason game against the Titans because of a hamstring injury, a detail relayed by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. The Bears will continue to manage that issue while the Falcons integrate Dexter into their camp plans.
Clark Phillips III provides the Bears with cornerback depth and experience from a 2023 rookie class. The swap addresses Chicago’s need for secondary pieces while Atlanta adds a sizable, proven interior defender as it shapes its defensive front for the season opening roster.
The deal arrives at a moment when many clubs are finalizing personnel for the regular season; both sides will now move forward with new pieces in place as training‑camp rosters are cut and final game plans are set.
