The Chicago Bears took a gamble on Gervon Dexter in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft. While he had a reputation for being a good run defender, most felt he didn’t have the necessary tools to become the interior pass rusher they needed. However, head coach Matt Eberflus felt his athletic foundation was strong enough to prove those people wrong once he learned how to play within the Bears’ attacking system. Once Dexter learned to use his powerful lower body and long arms to full effect, he could be a monster.
That risk seems to be paying off, as the second-year defensive tackle now has six pressures and two sacks through his first two games of the season. One play exemplified his progress better than most. During one play against the Houston Texans last Sunday, he was the only defensive lineman tasked with rushing the quarterback as everybody else was dropped into coverage. Despite this, he still managed to squeeze the pocket enough to force C.J. Stroud to unload the ball.
Fans weren’t the only ones who took notice of the moment. Franchise legend Akiem Hicks chimed in with high praise of his own.
Hicks approving Gervon Dexter is the ultimate validation.
The two share a lot in common. Both were selected on day two of the draft. Both were considered underdeveloped and one-dimensional when they arrived in the NFL. Hicks overcame those questions to become a well-rounded beast who could stop the run and terrorize the quarterback in equal measure. In six seasons with the Bears spanning 77 games, he racked up 31 sacks, 88 QB hits, and 247 tackles. If he says Dexter has the same mentality he did during those great years, Chicago should be excited.
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The best part is if he’s correct, the timeline favors the team even more. Don’t forget Hicks didn’t arrive until he was 27 years old. That shortened the window of peak play they would get from him. Gervon Dexter is only 22. If he’s on the same trajectory, the Bears may have a centerpiece for their defense that could last for the next decade. It is certainly great to see the young defensive tackle have so much respect for those who came before him. Fans have missed Hicks for a long time.
Back to football: Akiem Hicks was a beast. While he might not have qualified as a Bears legend, he made that defense better. When he was hurt, the defense was noticeably worse, and the Bears eventually had to cut ties with him because of his health being spotty. But the first few years, he was the bomb, and deserves a lot more credit than he’s getting.
If Dexter can be that kind of player, we’re in for a fun next 6-10 years.
Love Dexter. Dude called his shot on the breakout. Was clearly putting in the work if you followed him over the summer. Glad to see the production is there for him.
@TGena: “You’re right: Football is the point.”
@TGena: “… and, ramming it to Erik Lambert!”
Look, @TGena, you just yourself said football is the point. Please keep your sexual fantasies to yourself.
Big fan of Akiems. Don’t think I’d call him a Bears legend though. Urlacher, Peanut, Briggs, Hester. They earned that IMO.
@Dr. Steven Sallie —
I loved it (the GG episode).
100% speed to power!