Gervon Dexter carries a lot of expectations on his shoulders this year. The Chicago Bears made that crystal clear when they allowed Justin Jones to walk in free agency. He’d been their starting three-technique defensive tackle for the past two seasons. His exit means the job is Dexter’s to lose. Bears coaches feel he made great strides down the stretch of last season, notching 2.5 sacks in his final five games. If he takes one more step in 2024, he could become one of the most dangerous interior pass rushers in the NFL.
The biggest key for the Bears was ensuring he returned in top physical condition. That meant creating a plan for him to refine his body. Dexter embraced it. When he arrived for spring practice, he’d slimmed down and was much quicker than before. He also seemed to have more gas. That was on display during one moment in minicamps. Eberflus always talks about finishing plays through the whistle. All 11 men must go to the ball. Dexter took that mentality to the extreme, according to Larry Mayer of Chicagobears.com.
While it’s difficult to fully evaluate offensive and defensive linemen during off-season workouts when players are practicing without pads, Dexter’s improvements still stuck out to his coaches.
Eberflus immediately noticed Dexter’s leaner frame along with his increased quickness and athletic ability on the field. During one of the 11-on-11 team periods in a veteran minicamp practice, Dexter chased rookie receiver Rome Odunze down the sideline to finish off a play.
That should terrify people. A 6’6, 310 lbs human being shouldn’t be able to keep up with an NFL wide receiver. Dexter chasing down Odunze is an absurd visual, especially since the Bears rookie isn’t exactly slow. He runs a 4.4 in the 40. Lastly, keep in mind the defensive tackle did this in a minicamp practice. Going that hard during a drill that isn’t considered as serious as training camp should tell you about Dexter’s mindset. He is locked in. Every play is getting treated like the 4th quarter of a rivalry game.
Talent is only one part of the formula for becoming a great player. Effort, intensity, and conditioning are other parts. Gervon Dexter appears to have bridged that vital gap. It was part of why the Bears drafted him. They knew he had talent. What they found during evaluations was the heart of a true competitor. The kid was willing to work hard to achieve his dreams. Now, he is on the cusp of a potential breakout season. Doing so could transform the Bears’ defense into one of the NFL’s best.
