The Falcons Strike Hard

The final day of roster cuts in the NFL was particularly eventful. Several teams took advantage of this period to complete major trades, notably the Atlanta Falcons, who bolstered their defensive line by acquiring Gervon Dexter from the Chicago Bears.

Atlanta sent cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round draft pick to Chicago to acquire Dexter, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler.

Gervon Dexter has established himself as a starter for the Bears over the past two seasons. The defensive lineman recorded 11 quarterback sacks during that time. Selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, he is now entering the final year of his rookie contract.

This trade also marks a reunion with Ian Cunningham. The Falcons' new general manager previously served as assistant general manager in Chicago when Dexter was drafted.

Atlanta had been actively looking to improve its run defense after a difficult season in that area. The team had already acquired Maason Smith via trade, in addition to signing Da'Shawn Hand and Chris Williams as free agents.

However, an injury to Hand—who was expected to play a key role—has complicated the Falcons' plans. Dexter could therefore quickly become an important piece of the defensive line.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 326 pounds, the player brings a commanding physical presence. He has, however, been hampered by a hamstring injury recently and did not play in the Bears' last preseason game.

The Jaguars are banking on Quinn Ewers

The Jacksonville Jaguars also made a significant move to improve their depth at the quarterback position.

Jacksonville acquired Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2028. This trade allowed the Jaguars to release veteran Nick Mullens.

Ewers, however, is having a rough preseason. After suffering a groin injury in Miami's first preseason game, he completed just one of his eight passes for 27 yards, with one interception. He did not play in the next two games.

The young quarterback has a 1-2 record as a starter in the NFL, with 622 passing yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He now serves as a backup to Trevor Lawrence.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to part ways with offensive lineman Broderick Jones. Drafted in the first round in 2023, Jones is headed to Dallas in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

In return, Pittsburgh receives a third-round and a sixth-round pick from the Cowboys.

Jones played in 45 games with the Steelers, 38 of them as a starter, but failed to fully live up to expectations. Pittsburgh had also selected Max Iheanachor with the 20th overall pick in the most recent draft to continue strengthening its offensive line.

These moves demonstrate once again just how active the final day of cuts can be in the NFL, as teams fine-tune their rosters ahead of the new season.

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