The Falcons are using cutdown day to add, not just subtract.
Atlanta is acquiring Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips II and a fifth-round pick, according to Adam Schefter. The deal gives the Falcons another young piece for a defensive front that has already had to absorb injuries during training camp and the preseason.
That matters most because of the situation at defensive tackle. Da’Shawn Hand has missed time in camp, and Atlanta has had to keep a close eye on his availability. Bringing in Dexter gives the team another interior option and a layer of protection as the roster gets finalized.
Dexter also brings production. The former second-round pick, taken No. 54 overall by Chicago in 2023, is coming off a season with six sacks. He was in the final year of his rookie contract and carries a $1.6 million base salary for 2026.
His 2025 numbers show a player with a clear split in his game. Dexter posted a 55.6 overall PFF grade, which ranked 77th among 127 defensive interior players. His 42.7 run-defense grade ranked 101st among 130 defensive interior players, but his 70.5 pass-rush grade ranked 29th among 112 defensive interior players.
That interior pressure is the part Atlanta is betting on.
Dexter logged 773 defensive-line snaps last season, including 471 passing snaps and 302 rushing snaps. Chicago leaned on him, and the Falcons may be planning to do the same.
There’s also a familiar face in the mix. Dexter reunites with Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who was in Chicago’s front office when the Bears drafted him.
In Atlanta, Dexter joins an interior group that includes Zach Harrison, while also giving the Falcons another option alongside Hand and the rest of the defensive line. His pass-rushing ability gives defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich another way to get after opposing quarterbacks.
Phillips’ departure ends a camp battle that had him fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. Atlanta decided Dexter was the better use of the roster spot, even if it meant parting with a young cornerback and a fifth-round pick.
So while most teams are busy trimming on cutdown day, the Falcons made a different kind of move. They got bigger up front, and they did it at a spot where depth had already been tested.
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