Game Film Drops Gervon Dexter Sr. Out of the First Round

Florida’s Gervon Dexter Sr. is a man’s man on the interior of the defensive line.

Nothing but raw and brute power.

It’s the kind of thing that I love. In fact, I loved it so much I put a first-round grade on Dexter in my fall evaluation based on 2021 game film, “Gators’ Gervon Dexter Sr. Flashes Explosive Power.”

It’s not so much he looks different, I’m just tightening up the qualifications it takes to make First Round Mock’s First Round Big Board.

After hitting it out of the park on the Jets’ Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and Defensive Rookie of the Year Ahmad Gardner documented pre-draft as my respective 2022 WR1 and CB1, I can’t put a first-round grade on anyone who throws up red-flags in the process.

Not only that, but after further review, I don’t even think defensive tackle in a traditional 4-3 (four defensive linemen and three linebackers) is the ideal position for Dexter at the next level.

Nose Tackle

The four games (embedded below) of Dexter in 2022 say he is best suited to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense (three down defensive linemen and four linebackers).

If I was the general manger of a team picking the players this year and my team played a 3-4, this is where the game film says Dexter should be plugged in.

Dexter can put centers on skates like they’re trying out for the Olympics.

While nose tackle is not the most glamorous of positions to send the card in on – – some team who plays a 3-4 will be happy they took him.

Pure raw strength

Offensive guards and centers are like water dams for Dexter.

He’s like going bowling with a 16 pound bowling ball. Once he starts rolling he commands double teams a good amount of the time on game film.

It’s not a stick-your-finger in the electrical socket jolt of power at the point of attack, it’s more methodical and it takes a couple 300+ pound grown men to curtail his movement, and even then it’s not certain.

Dexter has shown he is capable of pressing double teams and the pocket hard. Sometimes that momentum alone is enough to pry open the gate, or he will just play bumper cars with the big boys, until he blasts into the pocket.

I won’t call Dexter a sack artist, but he can and will push the pocket – – and that’s what today’s NFL is all about.

My big complaints

For a guy who was 130-pounds soaking wet in high school with a dream of playing linebacker at Penn State, please understand I tend to be a hard grader on these guys who have what it takes, but are wishy-washy on game film.

Dexter looks like a man among boys at the Division 1 level of college football when it comes to pure weight-room strength watching him play.

However, he lets himself get handled too often. He dogs it sometimes.

The other big thing is, while he’s harder to move around that the kitchen stove in the run game, he is below average shedding blocks. He’s in position to make many more tackles than he actually makes.

#9 Gervon Dexter Sr. 6-foot-6, 312 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: Moderate

Projected by 22.6% (down from 34.5% on October 8) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 11, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Tennessee, Georgia, Utah, and Kentucky (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2021 stats: 50 tackles (20 solo, 30 assists), 1 pass defended, 2.5 sacks (24 pressures nfldraftbuzz.com)

2022 stats: 55 tackles (22 solo, 33 assists), 1 pass defended, 2.0 sacks (24 pressures)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Powerful no frills interior linemen who gets a solid push rushing the passer and who is decent against the run. Flashes swim move, but that’s it for pass rush moves. Draws a lot of attention due to natural upper and lower body raw playing strength. Flashes good close into the pocket and ability to get out to the sidelines. Against the run, holds ground, but inconsistent sustain. Hard wrapping tackler.

Final words

Dexter has what it takes, but his team will need to keep him motivated.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.