NFL Draft 2023 tracker: Live blog and pick-by-pick analysis
The Bears stood pat at No. 53 Friday night and got their three-technique, selecting Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr.
A three-year starter who is only 21, Dexter fills an obvious need along the defensive line and figures to slide in at the critical spot in Matt Eberflus’ defense. General manager Ryan Poles’ first two picks addressed the trenches.
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Draft grades: Scott Dochterman on Round 1 | Rounds 2-3
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Big board ranking: 55th
Dexter was the best defensive tackle available, per Dane Brugler’s final big board. Wisconsin’s Keeanu Benton went a few picks earlier to the Steelers. Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore was also on the board, but Dexter has the length at nearly 6 feet 6.
The Bears could have gone cornerback, but three-technique is a bigger need, and several edge rushers had already come off the board Friday night.
Introduction
Dexter was the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2020 recruiting class — ahead of Jalen Carter — and he was also recruited to play ACC basketball. In three seasons with the Gators, he played in 38 football games with 24 starts and had 9 1/2 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, four passes defensed and two interceptions. Dexter was durable in his career, having played in every game over his three seasons in Gainesville.
Dexter ran a 4.88 40 at the combine, fifth-best among defensive tackles. He had the third-best vertical at his position and fifth-best three-cone time.
Gervon Dexter was drafted with pick 53 of round 2 in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.53 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 77 out of 1620 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/qHxrG2PXBu pic.twitter.com/MmbecxUWjb
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 29, 2023
How he fits
Eberflus calls the three-technique “the engine” that makes the defense go. It’s the interior defensive lineman who lines up on the outside shoulder of the guard and is expected to rush the passer. We know how important it is to the defense, and it’s the position Dexter played on the Gators’ four-man front.
You’d probably like to see more production from Dexter, but defensive line stats can be overrated in college depending on a player’s role. The Bears certainly have looked at the tape to see how Dexter handled SEC offensive linemen. Brugler writes that Dexter “must develop a more disciplined approach to turn the flashes into more consistent play, but he is an agile, coordinated big man who has yet to play his best football. He is a traits-based projection who can play up and down the line.”
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Rookie impact
Dexter will be counted on to be the long-term three-technique for this defense. They don’t have anyone else — those two veterans are on expiring contracts.
Brugler wrote that Dexter was “flagged multiple times for roughing because of his tendency to put all his weight on the quarterback,” and the coaching staff will have to work on that because it will be officiated even stricter in the NFL. On the plus side, Dexter “plays with urgency in the run game,” and the Bears’ run defense suffered late last season.
DA BEARS GOT A GATOR 🐊🐻
The @ChicagoBears select @GatorsFB DL Gervon Dexter at No. 53 overall.pic.twitter.com/llcVA5C8Wj
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 29, 2023
From an Eberflus perspective, Dexter “took on more of a leadership role in 2022 and is described as a ‘unifying presence’ behind the scenes by his coaches,’” Brugler wrote. That’s going to carry some weight with the Bears’ decision-makers.
Depth-chart impact
The Bears entered the draft with two defensive tackles: Justin Jones, who is in the final year of his two-year deal, and Andrew Billings, who’s more of a nose tackle and is on a one-year contract.
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Jones led the team in tackles for loss last season, but he’s better off as a rotational player if the D-line is playing at a high level. Dexter will have more potential to be a game-wrecker with his traits, but if it takes him some time to get acclimated, he can learn from Jones. There is still room for the Bears to add here, considering the value Eberflus puts on the position.
Fast evaluation
The defensive line was woefully outplayed throughout the second half of last season, and an imposing player like Dexter should only help. “Dexter carries his weight well with impressive foot quickness and pass-rush potential, although you wish he had more backfield production to show for it,” Brugler wrote. “His impact can be traced to his ability to leverage — he is a very different player when he utilizes his long levers to put blockers on skates as a pass rusher or anchor, stack and work the point in the run game.”
Dexter has traits and the pedigree of a top recruit, and the Bears will be relying on Eberflus, defensive coordinator Alan Williams and defensive line coach Travis Smith to get the most out of him at three-tech.
(Photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
