Falcons sign Gervon Dexter to 4 year, $78 million deal

Through three weeks, that's exactly what he's done, as he's piled up one of the highest pressure totals of any interior defensive lineman and has formed a devastating duo with Brandon Dorlus . The Falcons decided there was no point in waiting to lock him up in a contract year, signing him to a big money four year deal that continues a trend of Atlanta signing their stars to long-term deals under a new regime.

"Gervon is a young, ascending talent whose power, disruption and impact along the defensive line are difficult to find," Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said. "What's been just as impressive is the growth he's shown off the field as a man and a father. His passion for the game and commitment to his teammates are qualities we value highly, and we're excited to keep him as an important part of our defense moving forward. I also want to thank Drew and Jason Rosenhaus for their communication and partnership throughout this process."

A fifth round pick and Clark Phillips are not prices you'd associate with a game-changing talent, but that's what the Falcons paid to get Dexter back in August. Ian Cunningham played a role in drafting Dexter in Chicago as the team's assistant general manager and clearly coveted him, but the Bears were also clearly wary of paying him big money given his inconsistency as a run defender and tackler in particular. The Falcons bought low on a player who they felt was an ideal fit for their attacking front alongside Dorlus, Maason Smith , and LaCale London , and thus far Dexter has been everything they hoped for.