The Chicago Bears' 2023 rookie class has been encouraging this season. In fact, it's been really good.
But, for the 2023 draft to go from really good to truly special, second-round pick Gervon Dexter has to become a force along the interior of the defensive line.
His slow start to the season raised red flags about his outlook within the fan base, but Dexter, who's a massive defender at 6'6" and 312 pounds, is beginning to look like the havoc creator that GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus hoped he'd become on draft weekend.
Dexter's totaled eight QB pressures over the last three games, and while he's still searching for his first NFL sack, he's beginning to disrupt the pocket, which is a form of untallied production.
The Chicago Bears' defense is benefitting from the talent Poles added to it in the 2023 draft. Dexter, Zacch Pickens (DL), and cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terrell Smith are all playing well and will factor into the team's plans in a big way in 2024.
Dexter, though, is the key that unlocks it all. Check out all of his snaps from Week 12's win over the Minnesota Vikings:
Every snap #Bears rookie Gervon Dexter Sr played against the Vikings on MNF. pic.twitter.com/kXSMp5arBA
— ImBearingDown (@ImBearingDown) November 29, 2023
