Clark Phillips III is now a Chicago Bear after the team acquired the young cornerback from Atlanta on Sunday, August 30, as NFL teams worked toward the 53-man roster deadline. Chicago sent defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Falcons in exchange for Phillips and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
The move gives Chicago another defensive back with NFL experience just before the start of the 2026 regular season. It also gives Phillips a fresh opportunity after three seasons in Atlanta, where injuries and competition limited his path to a permanent starting role.
For Atlanta, the deal addresses a different need. The Falcons add Dexter to their defensive front after he started all 17 regular-season games for Chicago last season. The transaction gives both players a new team at a crucial point in their careers.
Clark Phillips III Trade Details
The trade was completed on August 30 during one of the NFL’s most important roster days of the year.
Chicago receives:
- Cornerback Clark Phillips III
- A 2027 fifth-round draft pick
Atlanta receives:
- Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter
The transaction gives the Bears an experienced cornerback while adding another future draft selection. Atlanta, meanwhile, gets a defensive tackle who has already logged significant starting experience.
Phillips was a fourth-round selection by Atlanta in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dexter was selected by Chicago in the second round of that same draft.
The trade therefore moves two young defensive players into new situations before the regular season begins.
Why the Bears Added Phillips
Chicago entered the roster deadline with concerns surrounding its cornerback depth.
The team had dealt with injuries affecting several defensive backs during the preseason. Jaylon Johnson experienced an arm issue during a joint practice, while Tyrique Stevenson also dealt with a leg problem. Slot corner Kyler Gordon had yet to practice during the preseason because of a calf issue.
Those circumstances increased the importance of adding another experienced player.
Phillips gives Chicago someone who has already played regular-season NFL football. He has appeared in 28 games and started seven during his career.
That experience could become valuable if the Bears face injuries during the season.
Phillips also offers familiarity with playing outside corner. He spent much of his first two NFL seasons in that role and earned meaningful defensive snaps during his time in Atlanta.
Phillips Brings Three Years of NFL Experience
Phillips entered the NFL after a strong college career at Utah.
Atlanta selected him with the 113th overall pick in 2023. He immediately joined a secondary that expected him to develop into a useful rotational defender.
During his first NFL season, Phillips appeared in 11 games and started five. He gained experience against professional passing attacks while also contributing on special teams.
His role changed during the following season.
In 2024, Phillips appeared in all 16 games for Atlanta. He recorded 35 tackles and five passes defended. He also produced his first NFL interception.
That season remains an important reference point for evaluating his potential.
Phillips did not become a full-time starter, but his performance showed that he could contribute when given opportunities.
The 2025 Injury Changed His Trajectory
Phillips’ progress took a significant hit during the 2025 season.
He played in only one game before suffering a triceps injury in Week 4. The injury ended his season and kept him away from the field for the remainder of the regular season.
That absence came at an important stage of his development.
Instead of entering another season competing for an expanded role, Phillips had to focus on recovering and getting back to football activities.
He returned to offseason work and eventually participated in Atlanta’s preparations for 2026. However, the Falcons had several defensive backs competing for roster spots.
Phillips ultimately became part of a trade that sent him to Chicago.
A New Opportunity in Chicago
The move to Chicago provides Phillips with a chance to reset his career.
He does not arrive as a rookie who needs to learn the NFL from scratch. He already understands the speed, physicality and preparation required at the professional level.
His challenge will be earning a role within Chicago’s defensive system.
The Bears have several defensive backs competing for playing time. Phillips will have to establish himself through practice, preparation and his ability to execute assignments consistently.
His previous starting experience could help him make that case.
Seven career starts are not enough to establish a long-term starting position, but they provide useful experience that an untested player does not have.
Phillips’ Career Numbers
Through his first three NFL seasons, Phillips has recorded:
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Games played | 28 |
| Starts | 7 |
| Tackles | 63 |
| Passes defended | 10 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Forced fumbles | 2 |
His most productive season came in 2024, when he appeared in every regular-season game for Atlanta.
The numbers do not suggest a finished product. Instead, they show a young defensive back who has received enough NFL experience to give Chicago a foundation to work with.
His next opportunity could determine whether he becomes a larger part of an NFL secondary.
The Importance of His 2024 Season
Phillips’ 2024 campaign is particularly relevant because it demonstrated his ability to stay available and contribute throughout a season.
He played all 16 games that year and finished with 35 tackles.
His five passes defended also represented his highest single-season total to that point.
The interception gave him a turnover-producing play that Chicago can now consider when evaluating his skill set.
His performance also received recognition from Pro Football Focus. Phillips ranked 20th among qualifying cornerbacks in coverage grade that season, tied with Chicago’s Kyler Gordon.
That does not guarantee a major role with the Bears, but it provides evidence that Phillips has previously performed well in coverage.
What Happened in Atlanta
Phillips never fully secured a starting job with the Falcons.
He started five games as a rookie and two more during the 2024 season. Most of his career has involved rotational duties rather than a full-time workload.
Atlanta’s secondary also had enough depth to make Phillips’ roster position uncertain entering the final preseason weekend.
The Falcons ultimately decided to use him as part of a trade package for Dexter.
For Phillips, the timing is significant. A player who was fighting for a roster spot in Atlanta now joins another NFL team with an opportunity to compete for defensive snaps.
Why the Falcons Wanted Dexter
Atlanta’s decision centers on the defensive line.
Dexter has played 49 games during his three NFL seasons and has started 33 of them. He recorded 13.5 sacks over that span, including six sacks during the 2025 season.
He also started all 17 games for Chicago last year.
Those numbers provide Atlanta with a proven interior defender rather than another developmental player.
Dexter stands 6-foot-6 and weighs more than 320 pounds. His combination of size and pass-rush ability gives the Falcons another option in the middle of their defensive front.
Atlanta also has familiarity with Dexter through general manager Ian Cunningham, who previously worked in Chicago’s front office.
Cunningham was with the Bears when the organization selected Dexter in the 2023 draft.
Dexter Was Entering a Contract Year
The timing of the trade also matters for Dexter.
He was entering the final year of his rookie contract with Chicago.
The Bears had been evaluating his long-term future with the team. Dexter had shown flashes of strong interior play, but consistency remained an issue.
Chicago’s coaching staff had challenged him to play with a lower pad level and become more consistent from snap to snap.
His training camp role also changed before the trade.
Dexter had lost his starting position during recent practices. Rookie Jordan van den Berg had impressed the Bears and was emerging as a candidate to play alongside veteran Grady Jarrett.
That development made Dexter more expendable from Chicago’s perspective.
What Phillips Adds to the Bears Defense
The Bears are not simply replacing one player with another at the same position.
They are changing the balance of their defense.
Chicago loses a defensive tackle with substantial starting experience but adds a cornerback to a position group that needed depth.
Phillips can compete outside and provide another option in coverage.
His size is also notable. He is listed at 5-foot-9 and 183 pounds, which makes him smaller than many outside cornerbacks.
However, his college and NFL experience show that he can compete despite his frame.
His ability to stay disciplined in coverage will be important in Chicago.
Phillips’ Utah Background
Before entering the NFL, Phillips established himself as one of the top defensive backs in college football.
He played at Utah and became a major contributor in the Utes secondary.
His college career helped him earn national recognition before the 2023 draft.
Phillips was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. He also received unanimous All-American recognition.
Those achievements helped make him an intriguing NFL prospect despite concerns about his size.
Atlanta ultimately selected him in the fourth round.
His professional career has not yet matched the level of his college success, but the move to Chicago gives him another opportunity to change that trajectory.
A Fresh Start Before the 2026 Season
The timing of the trade could be important for Phillips.
The 2026 regular season is approaching, and Chicago must quickly integrate him into its defensive plans.
There is little time for a long adjustment period.
Phillips will need to learn the Bears’ terminology, coverage responsibilities and communication standards while competing for a place on the active roster.
His previous NFL experience should make that process easier than it would be for a rookie.
The Bears also have a reason to evaluate him carefully. Phillips will become a free agent after the 2026 season, so his performance could influence his next contract.
That makes the upcoming season particularly important.
What the Trade Means for Phillips’ Career
For Phillips, this trade is about opportunity.
His career has followed an uneven path so far.
He entered the league with strong college credentials, received starting opportunities as a rookie, produced his best statistical season in 2024 and then lost most of 2025 to injury.
Now he has a new team.
Chicago does not need Phillips to become a star immediately. The Bears need reliable depth, competitive coverage and players who can step into larger roles when injuries occur.
If Phillips can stay healthy and perform consistently, he could earn more defensive opportunities.
That could change his career outlook as he approaches free agency.
What Bears Fans Should Watch
There are several areas worth watching once Phillips begins playing for Chicago.
First is his health. His triceps injury limited him to one game last season, making availability an important factor.
Second is his role. Phillips has experience starting but has spent much of his career as a rotational player.
Third is his coverage performance. His 2024 season showed that he can grade well in coverage when given an opportunity.
Finally, his special-teams contribution could matter. Players competing for reserve defensive roles often need to contribute in multiple phases to secure consistent roster spots.
The Bigger Picture for Chicago
The trade reflects Chicago’s willingness to reshape its defense immediately before the regular season.
Moving Dexter was not a minor decision. He started every regular-season game in 2025 and had already accumulated significant NFL experience.
However, the Bears also received a cornerback and a future draft pick.
That return gives Chicago flexibility.
Phillips can immediately compete for a role, while the fifth-round selection adds another asset for the 2027 draft.
The success of the move will ultimately depend on how both sides perform after the trade.
For now, Chicago has added a young defensive back with NFL starting experience and previous evidence of strong coverage play.
The Road Ahead
Phillips now begins the next stage of his NFL career in Chicago.
His first task will be learning the Bears’ system and competing for playing time. His second will be proving that the player who produced a strong 2024 season can return to that level after missing most of 2025.
The opportunity is there.
Chicago needed additional depth in the secondary, and Phillips arrives with experience that could become valuable during a long NFL season.
At the same time, Atlanta has chosen to invest in Dexter and strengthen its defensive interior.
The trade therefore gives both players a chance to change their circumstances.
For Phillips, the move offers a clean beginning with a team that needs help in the secondary. His performance during the 2026 season will determine how much that opportunity becomes a larger role.
Will Phillips make an impact in Chicago during the 2026 season? Share your thoughts below and stay informed as his new chapter with the Bears unfolds.