Bears get lackluster trade grade from ESPN for Gervon Dexter Falcons deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears need to cut down their roster to 53 players, and whether it's by cutting players or trading them away, Ryan Poles has some work to do.
Sunday morning, he and the Bears did make a trade, and it was a significant one. Gervon Dexter was dealt to the Atlanta Falcons, and they got back Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
After the trade, ESPN's Ben Solak handed out an "A" grade to the Falcons, but gave the Bears a lackuster grade of just a "C" for this Dexter trade.
Bears receive 'C' grade for Gervon Dexter trade"Falcons grade: A- Bears grade: C," Solak writes. "Phillips is nice for depth, but not much of a needle mover when a starter is going back the other way."
The Bears are giving up a starting defensive tackle in Dexter, who has 13.5 sacks in three seasons, and is still just 24 years old.
He will be a free-agent after the 2026 NFL season, so the Bears trading him isn't that big of a shocker. But, the return isn't exactly, as Solak put it, a needle-mover.
Phillips will be a nice depth cornerback, especially with some uncertainty at the postiion with Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson's injury history.
MORE: Why Falcons are trading for Gervon Dexter from Bears
Part of why the Bears are getting such a lackluster grade, beyond the fact that they are giving up a legitimate starting defensive tackle with some pass rush upside, the draft pick they got in return.
A fifth-rounder isn't really all that expensive, and the Falcons could get a fourth, or even a third-round compensatory pick if they let him walk in the offseason.
Such a scenario would require a breakout 2026 season from Dexter, but considering his upside as a pass rusher, there's a real chance he pieces together a great fourth NFL season, and earns a massive payday in the offseason.
This is a weak grade from Solak on the Bears' trade of Dexter for Phillips and a 2027 fifth-round pick. But, it's fair, considering the massive upside Dexter will bring to the Falcons, as opposed to the value he brought back.
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