With the Kansas City Chiefs placing the franchise tag on offensive guard Trey Smith, the Chicago Bears won’t be able to use their ample salary cap space to pursue him. Instead, most of that money will likely go toward strengthening their defensive line.

The top two edge rushers expected to hit free agency are Khalil Mack and Josh Sweat. However, Mack, who is set to turn 34, is unlikely to return to the Bears after their previous stint together. Sweat, in his late 20s, has a solid resume of pressuring quarterbacks but has only reached double-digit sacks once in his career and is expected to demand a hefty contract.

The Bears’ top priority remains fortifying the interior of their offensive line to protect second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. But if they’re looking for value and have the funds available, making a bold trade offer for one of two elite pass rushers—Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys or Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns—could be the next big move.

Myles Garrett has already requested a trade out of Cleveland and swiftly shut down any talk of an extension this offseason, despite having two years remaining on his contract. On the other hand, Micah Parsons is entering his fifth NFL season, with a team option that will pay him $24 million for the 2023 campaign, which Dallas has already exercised.

The key question is whether the Cowboys are willing to extend Micah Parsons long-term, especially after already committing significant money to quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last offseason. Spotrac estimates Parsons’ market value at nearly $135 million over a new four-year deal, a figure that may be too steep—or at least too unappealing—for Dallas to swallow.