The Atlanta Falcons did not waste any time keeping newly-acquired defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. in the building.
The Falcons signed Dexter to a four-year, $78 million contract extension with $46.5 million guaranteed, Dexter's agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Dexter, 24, has been one of the best interior linemen in the NFL in the early season. He is eighth in the league in quarterback pressure rate (20.5%) among defenders with at least 50 pass-rush snaps.
Dexter has just a half sack, but has regularly affected the quarterback. The Falcons are third in the NFL in quarterback pressure rate (41.6%) despite blitzing only 19% of the time, the second lowest mark in the league. Dexter has been a major part of defensive line coach Nate Ollie's attacking front.
"It's a mindset more than anything," Ollie said earlier this month. "You got to be telling yourself every single rep that, man, I'm willing to run in a dark room. Just visualize yourself just running in a dark room and everything else [will] take care of itself. Just play fast, play free. [Dexter is] embracing the mindset."
The Falcons acquired Dexter on Aug. 30, sending cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears. Dexter was a Bears second-round pick in 2023 and had a combined 11 sacks over the last two seasons.
The Falcons needed front-seven help with the loss of edge rushers Jalon Walker (ACL) and James Pearce Jr. (suspension).