Gervon Dexter earns extension and delivers proof, not potential for Falcons

This summer, I criticized the team's decision to extend both Kyle Pitts and Matthew Bergeron because both players were relatively unproven in the new incarnation of the Falcons offense. Paying both, despite not knowing whether they'd blossom under new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and offensive line coach Bill Callahan, felt like a continuation of the team's trend of overrating itself with little to show over the last eight years of underachieving.

Through three weeks, Pitts has barely produced, and Bergeron has been up and down . Three games isn't a huge sample size, but in Dexter's case, it's been more than enough to show he can shine in a new defensive scheme under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and the tutelage of position coach Nate Ollie.

Dexter leads the Falcons with 14 pressures and has a l eague-leading pass rush win rate among interior defenders, per Pro Football Focus . With such a brilliant start to the season, the Falcons' signing of Dexter now may have saved them money .