The Bears have signed both of their second-round picks. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has signed defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. With these two signings, the Bears have officially inked their entire draft class to rookie contracts.
The Bears selected Dexter with the No. 53 pick, acquired in the team’s haul for Roquan Smith. After playing sparingly in 2020, the defensive tackle took on a bigger role at Florida during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. In 26 games between those two seasons, Dexter compiled 105 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Scouts were wary of his so-so pass-rushing ability and lack of speed, but Chicago was still plenty intrigued in the prospect’s six-foot-six, 310-pound makeup.
Justin Jones will be back in 2023 after starting all 17 games for Chicago last season, and the team added nose tackles Andrew Billings and third-round rookie Zacch Pickens. Dexter will surely be used as a rotational piece at both DT and NT, but the Bears will have the luxury of bringing him along slowly considering their depth in the middle of the defensive line.
Chicago ended up trading up with their other second-round pick to select Stevenson. The defensive back earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after defending seven passes and picking off a pair of passes in 11 games for Miami (FL). The prospect has the size to be a top cornerback in the NFL, and he’ll probably get the first shot at the starting gig opposite Jaylon Johnson.
The Bears were one of the most active teams during and leading up to the NFL Draft, highlighted by their trade of the first-overall pick. When all was said and done, the team ended up selecting 10 rookies:
- Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida)
- Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami)
- Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)