On Saturday, the New Orleans Saints saw their archrival Atlanta Falcons get a little stronger on the defensive line. The Falcons are acquiring defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. in a trade with the Chicago Bears, per multiple reports. In return, Atlanta sent cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round draft choice to Chicago. The trade market for Dexter was reportedly fairly high. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Saints were one of a few teams interested in the fourth-year defensive tackle. They were reportedly joined by the New York Giants, with Atlanta coming through with the best return. New Orleans lost starting DT Bryan Bresee to a season-ending knee injury early in training camp.
Dexter, 24, was a second-round pick and the
53rd overall selection by the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, from the Florida Gators. In three NFL seasons, Dexter has 13.5 sacks with 42 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss. He appeared in every game for the Bears last season, recording a career-best 6 sacks along with 6 stops for loss and 22 pressures. In 2025, Dexter played under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, former coordinator and head coach for the Saints.
Now, the third-year pro is expected to start in the middle of a Falcons defensive line that has lost two key pieces in their front seven. Atlanta lost edge rusher Jalon Walker to a season-ending injury, with edge rusher James Pearce Jr. serving an eight-game suspension to start the year. The Falcons are also trying to replace several linebackers, including starter Kaden Elliss, back with the Saints.
After attempting to trade for Dexter, the Saints should be expected to look for other additions to bolster their own defensive front. New Orleans must still make several moves to trim down to a 53-man active roster by Sunday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Report: Falcons beat Saints to the punch in trade for former Bears DT
