Bears tab DL Gervon Dexter Sr. with 2nd-round selection

The Chicago Bears selected Florida interior defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 53rd overall.

Dexter racked up 55 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception last season. His production in 2022 was a continuation of a productive 2021 campaign in which he recorded 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.

The Florida product will join a defensive line rotation that is headlined by Justin Jones and Andrew Billings along the defensive interior.

Chicago has been proactive in improving its personnel on the defensive side of the ball, with linebacker T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and DeMarcus Walker among its notable signings in free agency.

Pre-draft profile

Dexter has some juice to his game. There are flashes of brilliance, particularly as a pass-rusher, when he can pin his ears back and fire off the ball. Dexter demonstrates the hand usage and repertoire for quick wins in his pass rush and the speed to get to the quarterback. Consistency has been an issue in that regard, and landing with the right staff may be key to unlocking his potential at the next level. However, Dexter certainly has the tools to be a penetrator on the inside. A tendency to play upright off the snap gives him trouble anchoring and holding his ground against double teams, so his ideal role in the short term will likely be as a rotational pass-rush specialist who can turn it on in a limited workload for high-leverage snaps.