The Dallas Cowboys could have easily avoided the mess they are in with star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Appearing on The Undertaker on the Six Feet Under podcast, Parsons expressed his frustration on the Cowboys’ end for not extending him earlier, which could have prevented a huge headache for the team.
“We obviously wanted to get done early,” Parsons said. “We want that relief off our backs. But, obviously, ownership is always gonna make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be.”
Parsons knew players like Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett were going to reset the market, so he wanted the Cowboys to extend him before to save money.
Fast forward to now, and there’s no turning back for the Cowboys. The Pittsburgh Steelers just extended T.J. Watt to a three-year, $123 million extension ($40.25 average salary), and Parsons won’t accept a pay cut now. If the Cowboys still want to be stingy, that leaves a team like the Chicago Bears to make its move to secure a premier pass rusher.
Bears’ Need Could Lead to a Bold Move for Micah Parsons
Getty| Bears pass rusher Montez Sweat #98.
To say the Bears don’t need a pass rusher like Parsons is naive. The Bears’ pass-rush win-rate was 24th in the NFL last season at just 37% according to ESPN metrics.
The solution was signing former Indianapolis Colts pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million deal this offseason. That’s it. And while Odeyingbo had 31 total tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles last season, there’s no guarantee he or Montez Sweat will suffice for the Bears’ lack of pass rush in recent years.
Want a solution, Chicago? Add a player who’s logged 52.5 sacks, 256 total tackles, and nine forced fumbles in just four seasons in the NFL.
When a 26-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro is potentially available, there’s no excuse not to inquire about his availability.
Being Aggressive Comes With a Price
There’s no hiding it. A trade for Parsons won’t be cheap. It’ll take premium draft capital and a $41 million+ annual contract salary to secure Parsons. And he knows his worth.
“I’m just going to get mine no matter what,” Parsons said. “You know what I mean? Like, the markets change every year. Their salary cap went up, like, another 18% this year.”
That said, Bears GM Ryan Poles has shown a willingness to be aggressive if it means adding talent, with some trades working and others falling short. But this type of trade could be a “Khalil Mack-level” deal that secures the pass rusher of the future in Chicago. One that would catapult the Bears into true NFC contenders and not just a sleeper team.
If Dallas continues to dive into murky waters, Chicago could, and should, be the first team to make a serious offer.
