LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Shortly after the Bears selected defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. late in the second round of the NFL Draft, his phone lit up with a text message.
It was fellow defensive lineman prospect Zacch Pickens, whom Dexter got to know during the pre-draft process. Pickens had also just been selected by the Bears – with the top pick of the third round, 11 slots after Dexter was chosen by Chicago.
“We could easily be the dominant duo,” Pickens said to Dexter that night.
Their work toward that goal began Friday afternoon at Halas Hall during a two-day rookie minicamp. The Bears are hopeful that they've bolstered their defensive line with Dexter, Pickens and seventh-round pick Travis Bell.
Dexter and Pickens are each somewhat raw prospects, but the Bears see plenty of promise for them with the proper development and coaching. What the Bears like is that both are strong scheme fits for head coach Matt Eberflus' scheme.
“They’re big, they’re athletic, they’re smart, they love ball,” Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams said. “Everyone that plays in the NFL doesn’t love ball. They do. They’re athletic. They stay on their feet.
“So, that works for us.”
Dexter was a prized high school prospect in the class of 2020 who was actually rated ahead of Georgia-bound defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who was selected at No. 9 overall by the Eagles. But Dexter’s time at Florida didn’t produce dominance like Carter’s tenure at Georgia.
The Florida program asked Dexter to be a two-gap player on the defensive line, so he was tasked with reading and reacting to offensive linemen. It meant Dexter missed out on opportunities to disrupt the pocket or backfield.
“Here is more of a just go, get vertical,” Dexter said of his role with the Bears. “Penetrate and reset the line of scrimmage.
"That's one of the things I feel like I do best, that's kind of what I love doing, it's what I wanted to do. It's great for me."
Similarly, Pickens was a highly touted high school recruit whose play didn’t produce big numbers. He had 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss over 47 games (32 starts) at South Carolina.
Dexter and Pickens each project to play a role in the Bears’ defensive line rotation as rookies. Their versatility was part of what attracted Chicago to them, and the Bears hope that Dexter and Pickens can emerge as key forces on their defensive front.
“When you have a scheme fit, a gut that has a skill set and then can turn into your scheme and you’re asking guys to do certain things and they match up, that’s when a guy can really flourish,” Williams said. “So, you can be better than maybe what your talent can allow you to be. When you match up both, one plus one equals three. That’s what you’re looking for when you match it up. I think we’ve done that. Ryan Poles has found, coach Flus has found great guys that fit our scheme. So, we think they’ll be even better than maybe what they were before in terms of production.”
The No. 218 overall pick in the draft, Bell won over Poles and Eberflus with his work ethic. He worked a medical supply job full-time while playing at Kennesaw State and was the first player ever drafted out of that program.
Bell had 11 sacks and 24.5 tackles for a loss over five years at Kennesaw State.
“What a fantastic young man,” Eberflus said. “I’m really optimistic about him and really enthused about him being here.”
During free agency in March, the Bears explored the three-technique defensive tackle options who were available, as it's a position that Eberflus calls the “engine” that drives his defense. But Chicago backed off in the bidding for the premier defensive tackles like Javon Hargrave and Dre’Mont Jones, who each landed lucrative deals elsewhere.
The Bears then had the opportunity to select the embattled Carter with the No. 9 overall pick but had concerns about his character, so they traded back one spot and allowed the Eagles to land him. Veteran Justin Jones is expected to play that leading three-technique position, but it will be shared several in the defensive line rotation.
In Dexter and Pickens, the Bears hope they've solidified that unit with great promise for the future.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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