The Atlanta Falcons have seen enough from Gervon Dexter Sr. to make it clear they want the defensive tackle in Atlanta for the long haul.

Less than a month after acquiring Dexter from the Chicago Bears, the Falcons agreed to a four-year, $78 million contract extension with the 24-year-old defensive lineman. The deal includes $46.5 million guaranteed, according to his agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, who shared the details with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It is a significant investment in a player who has quickly become an important piece of Atlanta’s defensive front.

While Dexter has recorded only half a sack early this season, that number does not fully illustrate his impact. Among defenders with at least 50 pass-rushing snaps, Dexter ranks eighth in the NFL with a 20.5% quarterback pressure rate.

His ability to consistently collapse the pocket has fit perfectly with Atlanta’s aggressive approach up front.

Falcons bet big on Dexter

The Falcons rank third in the NFL with a 41.6% quarterback pressure rate despite blitzing on just 19% of their defensive snaps, the second-lowest rate in the league. Atlanta has been able to create disruption without sending additional defenders largely because of the production of its defensive line.

Defensive line coach Nate Ollie recently explained that the unit’s success begins with an attacking mentality.

“It’s a mindset more than anything,” Ollie said earlier this month, adding that players must be willing to attack each snap without hesitation and “play fast, play free.”

Dexter appears to have fully embraced that philosophy.

Atlanta acquired him from Chicago on Aug. 30 in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. The Bears originally selected Dexter in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Dexter showed flashes of his pass-rushing ability in Chicago, totaling 11 sacks over his final two seasons with the organization.

Now, the Falcons are betting that his best football is still ahead of him.

By locking Dexter into a four-year extension, Atlanta has secured one of the young centerpieces of a defensive front that has quickly established itself as one of the NFL’s most disruptive units.

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