ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have locked down defensive tackle Gervon Dexter with a four-year, $78 million extension that includes $46.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. The deal comes just weeks after Atlanta acquired Dexter from the Chicago Bears and secures a former second-round pick who was set to become a free agent after this season.
Atlanta landed Dexter last month in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips and a future fifth-round draft pick in a move to bolster its defensive line before the season. Dexter was in the final year of his four-year, $6.7 million rookie deal signed after the Bears selected him with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Florida.
Through three games with Atlanta this season, Dexter has recorded seven total tackles and 0.5 sacks. The extension now places him in the top 15 among the highest-paid interior defensive linemen in the league, right in line with Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jordan Davis and trailing Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones, who leads the position with his $158.7 million deal.
The commitment follows Atlanta's first win of the season, a 35-14 road victory over the Green Bay Packers last Thursday. The Falcons will look to build on that result when they face the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.