Gervon Dexter trade may have put a dent in the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles relationship

After beating the Tennessee Titans 24-15 to close out the 2026 preseason, all attention turned to Sunday’s roster-cut day. It is always chaotic at this time of the year, and the Chicago Bears were no exception. They managed to turn an already tense afternoon into something far more dramatic.

The headline wasn’t the fringe players who were being waived or surprisingly made the team. They traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, a former second‑round pick and one of Ryan Poles’ hand‑picked defensive linemen, to Atlanta in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick. 

Trade terms, per source:

Bears receive CB Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick.

Falcons receive DT Gervon Dexter. https://t.co/NG23VcLOjg

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2026

Last week, Dexter’s name suddenly appeared in the trade rumor as he was set to become a free agent after this season. And he was drafted when Matt Eberflus was the head coach, running his own defense. After playing one year under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, he became expendable, especially after the emergence of 6th-round pick Jordan van den Berg in preseason.

The Bears traded Dexter for a cornerback, a position that already had questions swirling around it because of one name: 

Kyler Gordon

Johnson’s frustration with Gordon hasn’t exactly been subtle. His response to the media’s question regarding Gordon has been terse. And now, a new cornerback walking into the building on cutdown day.

The moment the trade hit the news wire, the message became loud and clear: Johnson no longer trusts Gordon. But it could also be a subtle message from Johnson to general manager Ryan Poles too. 

Poles was responsible for drafting both Gordon and Dexter. He also extended Gordon. And now, one is gone, and one is starting the season on the PUP list, meaning he will miss at least the first 4 games.

Is this trade the first crack in the Poles–Johnson partnership?

Asking Jordan van den Berg to step up for Dexter is a huge risk. Dexter has had issues with his leverage, pad level, and consistency every year since entering the league. However, he is coming off a career-high 6 sacks last season. For a team that has arguably the worst collection of defensive linemen in the NFL, he is probably the player they could least afford to trade. Still, trading Dexter is the clearest sign yet that Johnson is willing to reshape the defense if it means challenging the Poles’ investment and taking less in return. 

Dexter’s departure also put Poles’ defensive draft record back under scrutiny. Defensive Tackle Zacch Pickens from the same 2023 draft class as Dexter was let go last year. Dominique Robinson from the 2022 draft class is long gone. Safety Jacquan Brisker, Poles’ first pick in 2022, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the off-season. The overpriced moves for Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett add to a growing list of defensive misfires on his resume. 

To be fair, it is not the fault of Poles that Gordon got injured. It’s certainly not his fault that Gordon may have underestimated the extent of his injury and his approach to rehab. Only Gordon can answer them himself. 

But today’s trade sends a loud and clear message from Ben Johnson to Gordon: He no longer exists, and he will operate with that mindset moving forward. 

For Poles, Dexter’s trade and Gordon’s prolonged absence could be the first sign of the crack in his relationship with Ben Johnson.