Sources: Falcons add Dexter in trade with Bears

• 

  Marc RaimondiAug 30, 2026, 08:52 AM ET

  Close

  Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.

The Atlanta Falcons will try to shore up their defensive line with the acquisition of Gervon Dexter Sr. from the Chicago Bears on cut-down day.

The Falcons traded cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round draft pick to the Bears on Sunday morning for Dexter, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler.

Dexter, 24, was a starter the last two seasons in Chicago, accumulating 11 sacks combined during that period. He was a second-round pick by the Bears in 2023.

New Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was the assistant GM of the Bears when they selected Dexter, who is now in the final season of his rookie contract.

The Falcons struggled against the run last season and have made it a priority to improve the interior of their defensive line. They traded for Maason Smith and signed Da'Shawn Hand and Chris Williams in the offseason.

But Hand, who was expected to be an impact player, suffered a leg injury early in training camp and has not yet returned to practice. The 6-foot-6, 326-pound Dexter brings a big, physical presence to the position.

Phillips, 24, was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2023. He started seven games in 2023 and 2024 as mostly an outside corner, but missed most of last season with a triceps injury.