**Atlanta Locks Up Dexter on a $78 Million Extension**

The Falcons have signed Gervon Dexter Sr. to a $78 million extension, weeks after acquiring him from Chicago. It is a notable commitment to a player who arrived as a crisis patch — the August 30 trade came after Jalon Walker's torn ACL, James Pearce Jr.'s eight-game suspension, and Za'Darius Smith's retirement had left the defensive front essentially bare.

The dollar figure signals that Atlanta views Dexter as more than a stopgap. Whether he can be the anchor the front needs is a separate question, and the depth chart around him does not yet inspire confidence — the team still carries only one defensive tackle with meaningful playing time, and the edge situation behind Samson Ebukam remains thin.

Still, locking in a piece is better than not locking in a piece. The Falcons have spent heavily on the offensive side — Robinson, Pitts, Bergeron — and this extension at least suggests the front office recognizes the defensive side of the ledger needs real investment too, not just borrowed veterans. The linebacker and secondary holes are still there. But Dexter staying was the right first move.