The Chicago Bears need their top picks from the 2023 draft to take a big step forward this year. It is all part of their plan: draft and develop. Hopes are high for right tackle Darnell Wright, who had a solid rookie season despite a lingering shoulder injury. If he gets his technique under further control as expected, he won’t be somebody defenders want to see on Sundays. The other guy under the microscope is Gervon Dexter. A 2nd round pick last year, he served the role of backup defensive tackle.
While his production wasn’t anything special, he finished the season strong with two sacks and several pressures. He started looking like a guy who wasn’t only about size and power. He had some juice to his interior pass rush. Coaches felt the next step was getting his body in proper shape. Reports from Halas Hall indicate he arrived to practices slimmed down, showcasing quickness he didn’t have last year. Former scouting director Greg Gabriel confirmed this on Windy City Gridiron. If Dexter takes the expected step, the Bears may have a monster on their hands.
With rookies, we never know how they are going to respond to being a “Pro.” With Dexter, the success he had during the last part of the season showed him how good he could become. Gervon showed his maturity during the off-season and worked out hard to re-define his body and when he reported for the off-season program, he looked like a different person.
Dexter plays the all-important 3-Technique in the Bears scheme, and it’s imperative that he be a player who can attack and disrupt the run and put consistent pressure on the quarterback. If the way he worked in the off-season is an indication, then Gervon Dexter is in for a big season for the Bears this year. Personally, I feel he has the natural traits to become a defensive tackle who plays and disrupts the way Jeffery Simmons does for the Titans, or Chris Jones does for the Chiefs.
That is talent. Size, length, power, and athleticism. All of those qualities helped the Tennessee Titans star become a terrifying force on their defensive front. It’s also worth noting Simmons didn’t start his career hot. He had two sacks as a rookie and three in his second season. Yet the Titans continued working with him. By year three, he dominated with 8.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. The Bears don’t need double-digit sacks from Dexter, but they do need a steady amount of pressure from the interior.
Don’t forget they let Justin Jones walk in free agency. He was their primary interior pass rusher for the past two seasons. Such a decision was a clear statement that Gervon Dexter was their guy. They believe he’s ready to take over the mantle. They need somebody to help Montez Sweat on that defensive line. If he morphs into the version Gabriel describes, that front four will be something no opponent wants to face, even without that credible second edge rusher.
