Gervon Dexter
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Gervon Dexter Sr. #99 of the Chicago Bears celebrates a sack during the second half against the Cleveland Browns on December 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears announced on Wednesday that the team has granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade.
It’s been expected that the team would either trade or release Edmunds, as the move would free up $15 million in cap space with the team currently navigating with negative $4.1 million in available cap, according to OvertheCap.com.
What’s not expected surrounds Bears’ defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. and NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s latest report on him.
Intriguing Trade News Surfaces Surrounding Bears DT Gervon Dexter Sr.
According to Schultz, teams have inquired with the Bears about trading for Dexter.
“Sources: Teams have inquired with the #Bears about trading for DT Gervon Dexter, as the free-agent DT market and draft class are not deep. The 24-year-old started all 17 games last season and has 13.5 career sacks and 42 QB hits. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.”
The Bears drafted Dexter back in 2023 in the second-round, and he is coming off a career year with six sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 39 total pressures.
Schultz is right. Not only is the defensive tackle market thin in free agency, but the draft class is not deep either. The Bears are also a team with defensive tackle as one of its top needs. So it’s interesting to see teams reaching out regarding Dexter’s availability, but with the combination of a weak FA and draft class, along with the Bears also having a need at DT, it’s hard to imagine the Bears would give him up for cheap.
However, one point to consider is Dexter’s contract. He’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and the Bears could decide it’s not worth giving him a major extension and rather draft a defensive tackle in the first round.
Bears Must Consider All Their Options
If the Bears can field a good return for Dexter, Poles could pull the trigger and send him off.
Poles talked about these types of scenarios popping up during the NFL Combine, saying, “We know what we need to do, but any new, unique opportunities that might pop up are going to pop up. And then we’ll get back and kind of sort it all out and make decisions.”
Dexter has been nothing but great for the Bears. He’s improved every season, he’s worked hard, and he’s become a leader on defense. But if there’s an avenue where a team would pay a good price to trade for him, it’s hard to imagine Poles not making the move.
The Bears would have to seriously invest at defensive tackle if he were to make a move like that. Andrew Billings is a free agent, and Grady Jarrett isn’t a long-term option.
At the very least, the Bears would need to draft a DT in round one and go after some hidden gems during free agency. Personally, it feels like teams won’t be offering the type of draft capital that Poles would want for Dexter.