Parsons trade talks with the Bears were never realistic for Chicago’s cap reality. The team sat tight against a projected cap crunch into 2026, with barely any room to add a new mega-deal, prorations or extensions while still trying to field a competitive roster. Poles faced fan pressure but also a hard salary-cap ceiling that dwarfed flashy moves. Packers and Lions were floated as cap-rich partners, yet Bears compensation and roster constraints made Parsons a non-starter. The piece frames cap myths vs. reality and echoes Khalil Mack-era lessons for fans tracking 2025-26 fantasy rosters.