Gervon Dexter is well on his way to becoming the Falcons' new Grady Jarrett

The Atlanta Falcons haven't had a franchise-altering defensive tackle since Grady Jarrett left in free agency, and that was almost two years ago. And while Jarrett was a fan favorite it seems like they've finally found his long-term replacement in one of his former Bears teammates: Gervon Dexter.

Obviously, we know the Bears and Falcons connections run deep before you ever consider Jarrett's role in all of this. His departure made Atlanta's DT room a weakness last year, which led Ian Cunningham (who helped draft Dexter in Chicago) to trade for him weeks before the season opener.

The good news here is that it didn't exactly take the 24-year-old long to prove the Falcons right for trading for him. Through just three games, he's second among all IDLs (behind Zach Allen) in pressures and pass-rush win rate, and his 20.5% QB pressure rate ranks eighth in the NFL. The guy is a monster, and Cunningham already saw enough to lock him down long-term.

The Falcons signed the 24-year-old to a four-year, $78 million extension a few days back that did a lot more than just cement the Dirty Birds as obvious winners of this preseason trade. It also saw things come full circle with Grady Jarrett since Dexter revealed an interesting tidbit about their relationship.

While addressing the media for the first time after signing his new deal, Dexter revealed that Jarrett was one of the first people to text him after news of his extension became public. It may not feel like much, but it's nice to see this level of goodwill between the ex-Bears teammates. It almost feels like a passing of the baton from Falcons past to Falcons future.

Gervon Dexter has an interesting connection to ex-Falcon Grady Jarrett

The connectivity between the two defensive tackles has been a cool sight to see since there were a lot of Falcons fans who never wanted to see the 33-year-old leave. But Atlanta needed to get younger on the defensive line, and including this season, they now have Dexter locked down through 2031.

The difference here is that the two-time Pro Bowler is making $14.5 million a year to Dexter's $19.5 million--but that doesn't account for inflation and a changing market. Had he signed his deal now, he'd be making just as much: if not more.

During his prime years with the Falcons, Jarrett was an interior lineman who was best at rushing the passer and getting to the quarterback--and that's precisely what Gervon Dexter is becoming. He's one of the best pass-rushing DTs in football, and though he never fit Dennis Allen's system meant for smaller DTs (like Grady), he's a perfect fit for Nate Ollie's scheme that awards size and explosiveness.

So while the play-style comparison may not apply, it's hard to deny that he's not bound to take over his role as the linchpin on the defensive line. At the very least, he'll share duties with Brandon Dorlus. But given the way he's carried this pass rush without Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., it's hard to be shocked he's made such an impression on this coaching staff.

The other interesting thing to note here is that for as good the Florida product has been this season, Jarrett hs been turning the clock a bit as well. Let's took at this graph from Pro Football Focus. He's near the top of the league in both pass-rushing and a run defense metrics despite being in Year 12.

Everything worked out for both Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett, and it just so happens that their invisible string theory has Atlanta turning the youngster into their latest franchise tackle--just like the veteran once was.

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