The Atlanta Falcons just pulled a wild move, signing defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to a four-year, $78 million deal with a whopping $46.5 million guaranteed. The kicker? He hasn’t even started a single game for them yet, just one month after they traded for him. Talk about trusting your gut on a big man in the middle! This is a bold, bold bet on a player who’s clearly making an impact the minute he steps on the field.
The Price of Being an Absolute Anchor
Seventy-eight million dollars for a defensive tackle might sound like a lot of cash, but the Falcons are clearly desperate for someone to eat up blockers and free their linebackers to make plays. Dexter is an absolute monster at 6-foot-6 and 326 pounds. He’s been a catalyst for that lineup, making life tough for opposing offenses. Here’s the wild part: even though he only has half a sack so far, the man is eighth league-wide for quarterback pressure rate at 20.5 percent! That’s huge. The Falcons, despite minimal blitzing, are third in the entire NFL for quarterback pressure rate, and it absolutely proves Dexter is doing the gritty, dirty work that never shows up on the highlight reel. Their defensive line coach, Nate Ollie, said it himself earlier this month: “It’s a mindset more than anything.” He wants his guys playing fast and free, visualizing themselves running in a dark room. Dexter is definitely buying into that, playing 53 percent of the snaps in his first three games. They aren’t paying this kind of money for him to sit on the bench; they need him in there, every single week.
A Smart Play for the Future?
This deal is not just about right now, it’s about the future. Dexter turns 25 on October 5, so he’s still young enough to get even better for years. The Chicago Bears drafted him in the second round back in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he racked up 11 sacks over his two seasons with them. Now, he’s the new cornerstone for Atlanta’s front. When you look at the numbers, this deal actually looks like a steal. His $19.5 million annual average salary puts him right between Aaron Donald and Osa Odighizuwa in terms of yearly pay. It’s well below the top of the defensive tackle market, especially when you consider Jalen Carter with the Eagles is pulling in $38 million per year. The Falcons are going for it this year, no doubt. They’ve been aggressive, giving Bijan Robinson a record deal and extending Kyle Pitts and Drake London. Adding Dexter to that mix, after trading cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick to get him, shows a crystal-clear plan: build a ridiculously strong roster. This isn’t just a signing, it’s a statement.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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