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Is there any cap savings? Phillips carries a $3.8M cap hit for this season, Dexter was $2.1M. Since ATL is only on the hook for this year's bonus, it looks like the Bears would take on the other $3.6M. Dexter actually has a bigger bonus ($472K), so it looks like the Bears will need $2M in cap space with this move.

DB Terrell Smith has been waived. I thought he played pretty good yesterday and had hopes that he would have a shot this year being healthy. WR- Scotty Miller also waived.

Don't know anything about him, but I saw some ATL people say he was better at outside than inside in their system, but struggled against the run. At 5'9, I see no world he plays outside in Dennis Allen's system. But if nickel isn't his strong suit either, I'm not sure how much value he has to the team as a backup. I'm hoping the Bears can get more out of him at Nickel than ATL did, because it would allow Mohamed to play his more natural position on the outside.

It's a tough pill to swallow when you can only get a 5th round pick for someone drafted in the 2nd round only a few years ago, but it's better to get something for a guy the Bears had no intention of re-signing, and who was losing reps to other guys on the roster. The decision to draft him in the first place was always perplexing. He played in a read and react system at Florida, but the Bears drafted him as an up-field player in Matt Eberflus' system. Dennis Allen also uses his DT's as up-field guys instead of space eaters, which is not what Dexter is good at. His get off speed was one of his biggest weaknesses in college. Just horrible scouting by Ryan Poles on this one. There's no way around it. You can't whiff on so many 2nd round draft picks. Unfortunately, it seems like Stevenson and Shemar Turner won't be that far behind.

Sure but cocaine users can only use it so much before their heart explodes.

The close games are very entertaining and make you realize why you like football. Energy rush

If your a DC, this will have to be a team you have to do a lot work to defend. AND BJ will attack it.

Dexter was a second round pick and did not excel at the position. We changed D scheme and was said to not fit. He was average but did get 6 sacks last year. In a better fit, he may excel. We were not going to resign him so at least we got something out of him. We are stacked at DT. We added Galimore, Lynch, Street , drafted VDB and a surprise UDFA in Loving. Add Jarrett and that's 6 DTs. We could afford to let him go because those players seem to fit DAs scheme better. (faster and penetratingly ) Phillips has played NB and was the 7th overall rated DB in his draft. His size is what caused him to drop to the 4th round. It adds depth to a position we have some injures. Gordon is still a big question mark, Jaylon Jones got a hamstring in the Titan game. JJ, Stevenson, Terell Smith, Muhammad ( rookie) , Blackwell ( injured J Jones, and Gordon). Phillips isnt special but is a vet for added depth. With Bryant being hurt Cam Lewis has to play S so we needed something else to play NB. This was a realistic trade for a 5th and a player. A 4th would seem to be the proper value but we were not going to resign him.

I think this was a great addition to provide us with much-needed depth at DB. Definitely sweetens the deal.

Fwiw I like this Phillips kid. The brief highlights I’ve watched on him (sorry couldn’t get a link) he seems like a tough little defender. Heck knows the Bears need depth at Corner. And he played at Jaylon Johnson’s alma mater.

I was tired of waiting for him to become a difference maker on our DL. He always fell short. If this puts VDB in his place, outstanding move. My understanding is that Dexter is nursing an injury. However minor, I'm sure it would have affected his trade value. One thing for sure. No way does he deserve a big pay raise, and that is exactly what it would have taken to avoid him walking next season. I would have liked at least a 4th-rounder, but a fifth will suffice, along with the cap savings.

Zavion is gonna be a problem. If you only concentrate on his start, stop and go on that big TD, you will see elite on all three...

I'm kinda meh on the whole situation. In one hand, I've never seen the wow in Dexter, but have been optimistic about his potential. Dexter's career here reminds me of Alonzo Spellman. Two big, strong, freaks of nature that couldn't get off the snap.

Im cautiously optimistic because of a few things. This feels (to me) a little like 2019. The year after the surprising rise of Trubiksy and Nagy. I realize Johnson and Caleb are not them but I still cant get over this Déjà vu sensation. I’m out in Colorado visiting family and started talking to a fellow Bears fan (while at the Coors brewery). His wish was for the Bears to have comfortable wins. Not as many of these cardiac wins like we saw last season. We agreed the schedule will be tougher this year and if Johnson is a man of his word, he’ll beat his opponents with the gas pedal pressed all the way. And lastly my caution comes from being a life long Bears fan. I’m ready to shed that feeling of being let down. Let’s do this!

Since the Bears traded a 5th for Bradbury, this trade basically becomes Bradbury + Phillips for Dexter.

They must really feel comfortable with van den Berg. Also, they are still waiting for Dexter to move after the snap.

I am surprised the Bears only got a 5th for him. Feels like Poles got fleeced by his understudy. Dexter was a former 2nd round pick, and was only 24 years old. The Falcons added a player they were going to cut anyway.

They can go from one play with a 4-WR set with that speed, then come back to 13-personnel with Loveland, Kmet, and Roush.

Yeah, any injury to Caleb would basically derail the season. Bagent provides the best insurance policy on the market.

Im optimistic because of BJ and Caleb. In their second year together, they will put us in the top 5 scoring teams that will affect the D, less time on the field and teams having come back in a game. I think the reason the defense was so bad last year is because of major injuries. We have more talent than the stats showed last year. Like Mongo said, adding all that speed and upgrade at DT will help us get more pressure on the QB. Bryant was a major blow, but the depth is better and will make that less important. Healthy DBs and more speed at LB, will have better results. I liked DJ Moore a lot but we have more weapons than last year. The additions of speed. Raymond and Thomas is huge. With the development of Loveland and Burden and running the 12 and 13 sets, our offense will be hard to defend. Caleb will have a huge year.

BJ is going to attack defense weaknesses and he has the horses to do it. Burden-Loveland-Rome-Thomas-Raymond. Thomas/4.28 Raymond/4.34 Burden/4.41 Rome/4.45 Loveland/4.65

How many teams will be willing to go single high safety when Loveland and Zavion are on the field?

Thomas looked good too.

Terrel Smith looked good and Bagent was great. Nice way to finish the preseason.

Thomas is going to be a big part of BJ scheming him special plays. Speed is insane.. First guy that needs to be cut is Mason Murphy. He was terrible. I like Lynch, his constant motor keeps disrupting plays even those he doesnt fill the stat line. Its probably between Lynch and Loving, I like both. Terrell Smith was playing well and Cam Lewis had his named mentioned a lot. Prince played well for a nobody knows who he is.