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Dexter, who was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, arrives in Atlanta with two seasons of starting experience under his belt. During his time in Chicago, he recorded 11 sacks. The move reunites the defensive tackle with Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who served as the Bears' assistant general manager when the franchise originally drafted Dexter.
Addressing Defensive Line Depth
The acquisition of the 6-foot-6, 326-pound Dexter is part of a broader effort by the Falcons to address interior defensive line struggles that plagued the team last season. The organization has been active in seeking reinforcements, having previously traded for Maason Smith and signed free agents Da'Shawn Hand and Chris Williams. However, the depth chart faced setbacks during training camp, most notably with Hand suffering a leg injury that has kept him sidelined from practice.
Dexter is currently navigating his own injury recovery, having sustained a hamstring issue during a practice session last Tuesday. Consequently, he did not join the Bears for their preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans. He is currently playing in the final season of his rookie contract.
Roster Adjustments in Chicago
For the Bears, the trade involving Phillips marks a shift in their defensive personnel strategy. Phillips, a 24-year-old cornerback drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round of 2023, started seven games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons but saw his progress hindered by a triceps injury last year. Chicago has spent the offseason bolstering its interior defensive depth through the signings of free agents Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch.
The Bears also saw a positive development in their defensive line rotation with the emergence of sixth-round draft pick Jordan van den Berg. The Georgia Tech product has impressed coaching staff during the last six weeks, earning consistent first-team repetitions. Bears coach Ben Johnson recently praised the rookie's physical attributes, describing him as an incredible athlete who has quickly adapted to the professional level.
