The Chicago Bears made one of the more surprising moves of cutdown weekend when they traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons .
Chicago received cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Dexter, a former second-round selection who started 32 games over the previous two seasons. The deal raised an immediate question for a defense that already had concerns entering training camp.
Who replaces Dexter?
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen did not officially announce a new starter during his Wednesday media availability . But his comments about veteran defensive tackle Kentavius Street offered the clearest indication yet of where the Bears are heading.
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
"Quite honestly, I think he was the most productive tackle we had throughout the course of training camp," Allen said of Street.
That is significant praise for a player who began camp as part of an interior rotation. It also suggests Street is the leading candidate to take a larger role alongside Grady Jarrett in Chicago's base defense.
We'll find out about his starting status in the Sept. 13 opener against the Carolina Panthers. But Allen did not speak about his former Saints player as merely another rotational piece. "He's got the suddenness and the explosiveness off the ball that we're looking for to create penetration and disrupt the line of scrimmage," Allen said.
Those are traits Chicago emphasized all offseason.
Dexter produced six sacks last season and brought size and experience to the interior. The Bears clearly believed their new defensive-line group offered enough depth and perhaps a better fit for Allen's preferred style to make the 24-year-old expendable before he reached free agency next year.
Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
General manager Ryan Poles described the trade as a matter of "timing and fit." Allen gave a more detailed explanation this week.
"I felt like all along that was probably our deepest position group," Allen said. "I felt like we had a lot of guys that were NFL-caliber football players, and you can't keep all of them."
Five of Chicago's six active defensive tackles were acquired this offseason. Jarrett is the lone returning player, while Street, Neville Gallimore and James Lynch joined as veterans. Sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg and undrafted rookie Jayden Loving earned spots after impressive camps.
That is a dramatic remake of the position.
Van den Berg has become one of the most intriguing young players on the roster. Allen praised his physicality and effort but said the rookie must develop finishing moves that will turn disruption into production. Loving earned similar praise, with Allen calling his effort a genuine talent and pointing to his willingness to learn.
The Bears are betting that Street's immediate reliability, Jarrett's veteran presence and the upside of their young tackles can replace Dexter's snaps as a group. Street is uniquely positioned to lead that effort.
The 30-year-old has played seven NFL seasons with the 49ers, Saints, Eagles and Falcons. He is not the splashiest name on Chicago's rebuilt defensive line, but he appears to have earned Allen's trust through daily practice work rather than reputation.
That trust will be tested quickly. Chicago's defense needs more consistent pressure from its front, particularly opposite Montez Sweat. The team can move Dayo Odeyingbo inside on passing downs, but Street and the remaining interior rotation will be asked to control the line of scrimmage against the run and create pressure without sacrificing discipline.
Trading Dexter was a conviction move. The Bears were not merely clearing a roster spot; they believed the replacements were already in the building.
Allen's comments indicate Street may be the first player asked to prove them right.
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