Bears fans pining for Micah Parsons are the same ones who demanded the team trade for Cleveland's Myles Garrett and that they go after Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson.
They were frothing at the mouth over the thought of T.J. Watt, too, before he got his money. If it isn't an edge rusher, it's a running back or a receiver or lineman. They always want someone else's star.
It doesn't take much for Bears fans to think they should go out and trade for a savior at some key position and, really, they can't be blamed to some extent because a different GM than Ryan Poles did this already for them with Khalil Mack at the very last second before the season.
Jerry Jones enters the practice field as “let’s pay Micah” chants build a day after Parsons requested a trade.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) August 2, 2025
Chants were louder during the opening ceremony, for what it’s worth. pic.twitter.com/rr2yGYwGKJ
That experience, alone, should actually deter anyone from hoping they'd trade for Parsons. It was great for that first season when Mack had 12 1/2 sacks, but for numerous reasons the Bears never realized their full investment.
The Bears sent Mack's first team, the Oakland Raiders, two first-round draft picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick, a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick and Mack. Then they had to pay a deal to him at six years, $141 million that now looks like second-tier money compared to what edge rushers make.
Doesn’t Micah Parsons know that Jerry Jones won a Super Bowl 30 years ago and knows what he’s doing
— Vinnie Levine (@VinnieLevine29) August 1, 2025
For their investment, they received a holy terror for one year, then someone who didn't even crack the top 25 in sacks for 2019, was 13th in sacks in 2020 and in 2021 didn't even have as many sacks (6.0) as the player who came in to replace him when he was injured. That was Trevis Gipson (7.0).
There is no doubt they wouldn't have enjoyed their one division title in the last 15 years without Mack, but in the end what good was it after they double-doinked out? They lost first-round picks for two seasons and couldn't get the help who eventually might have made Justin Fields' job a little easier when he became quarterback.
2018: Bears and their first year Head Coach/young QB need a dominant pass rusher to put them in playoff convos, they trade for Khalil Mack
— BetMGM (@BetMGM) August 1, 2025
2025: Bears and their first year Head Coach/young QB need a dominant pass rusher to put them in playoff convos … pic.twitter.com/c1O4i7kiHA
So now they should run right out and pursue another similar deal? Forgive me for not rushing out for a Bears No. 11 jersey.
So many people think the NFL is the NBA or MLB and one player will turn around the team. It doesn't work that way in the ultimate team sport. Mack was about as close to it for one season as can happen, but there were limits to how much an edge rusher could really help.
Jerry Jones trying to sidestep the NFL’s most powerful agent to do a deal directly with Micah Parsons has been the most ridiculous negotiating tactic the Cowboys have ever done.
— Master (@MasterTes) August 1, 2025
You might win the battle, but David Mulugheta will win the war. Believe that. pic.twitter.com/veWcyCNMXl
Once coordinator Vic Fangio was gone, the limits became apparent.
Keeping the draft picks and finding actual young talent that costs much less on their rookie contract is far wiser use of salary cap space.
Regardless, none of this matters.
Parsons throws a pass to Doug Buffone on a fake punt.#Bears pic.twitter.com/gijxHS5k4F
— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) June 27, 2025
Jerry Jones is never letting something like this happen. Jones has made a lot of cash in his lifetime and didn't do it by being stupid.
They can simply put a franchise tag on Parsons for the next two years if they don't want to pay him the $40 million a year range that a top level defensive end gets now.
Cowboys receive Bagent
— Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonBears) July 18, 2025
Bears receive Parsons and a 3rd round pick pic.twitter.com/tLOpwTjmHg
The franchise cost would be around $26.5 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027. Either of those amounts would be bargains compared to the $41 million a year Watt received from the Steelers.
Of course they'd franchise Parsons if he doesn't want to sign a long-term deal. He'd play under the tags unless he wants to throw away a fortune, because who knows what tomorrow brings in a league where players suffer crippling injuries all the time?
The #bears should trade for Micah Parsons pic.twitter.com/XC18VGZAEc
— Kev (@2KEVlN) July 17, 2025
"I would say to our fans, don’t lose any sleep over this," Jones told Cowboys fans through Nick Harris of the Star-Telegram.
So no matter what the Bears and their fans or other teams and their fans might want, Jones will never trade Parsons until they've at least had the chance to draft a replacement or until their two years of tags expire.
There's more at work in one of these standoffs like this than a particular team wanting a player. The player's current team controls the cards and the franchise tag is the trump card for two years.
If I'm Jerry Jones, I'd teach that greedy Micah Parsons a lesson by trading him to a lesser organization like the Chicago Bears. Let him see how the other half lives so he'd learn how great he had it with a tremendous organization like the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/EEwZWhEuYw
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) July 26, 2025
Even if this wasn't the case, there are numerous teams with better financial situations for signing an edge to a $41 million a year deal than the Bears. The Bears are currently over the cap for 2026 and need to lose salary. Adding an astronomical salary for someone other than a quarterback makes zero sense.
Using their draft picks wisely and for players who Ben Johnson and Poles collaborate on in the draft process makes far more sense than flushing cap space down the NFL toilet again.
Perfect day for a practice at Soldier Field pic.twitter.com/za1dR27l4i
— Bears On SI (@BearsOnSI) August 3, 2025
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