​USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectMicah Parsons knows Jeffery Simmons is a problem. He once wanted that problem playing alongside him. That doesn’t mean the Packers star is ready to hand Chicago a trophy for acquiring him.Asked whether the Bears won the NFL trade deadline, Parsons hesitated. The player impressed him. The price required more consideration.“That’s hard to say,” Parsons said on The Edge with Micah Parsons.It was an answer guaranteed to interrupt the celebration in Chicago, where Simmons needed only two games to show why Ryan Poles pursued him. The Bears surrendered their 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-rounder, receiving Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round selection from Tennessee.Nov 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (99) reacts after a defensive play against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesParsons’ reservations centered on the value of that package for a defensive tackle who is already 29 and playing on his third NFL contract.He compared the situation with his own trade and Sauce Gardner’s, noting that both were still on their first contracts when they changed teams. Simmons represents a different calculation: an established star whose acquisition carries both a substantial draft cost and a veteran salary commitment. That distinction is fair to examine, even if Bears fans would prefer to keep watching the highlights from Seattle.Parsons also argued that Simmons had been more expensive than Myles Garrett. That comparison needs context. Cleveland received Jared Verse alongside a first-, second- and third-round pick in the Garrett deal. Comparing the number of first-round selections alone leaves a significant player out of the equation.Still, Parsons’ broader point was clear. Acquiring an excellent player and winning the transaction are separate judgments. The first can become apparent quickly. The second takes longer. His comments weren’t an attempt to dismiss Simmons’ ability. In fact, Parsons supplied a detail that made his respect particularly convincing.When Parsons played in Dallas, he knew Simmons trained there during the offseason. He remembered trying to turn that proximity into something more permanent.Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs against Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.“Come to Dallas, bro. Can we make that work?” Parsons recalled asking him.So the player now strengthening a division rival is someone Parsons previously wanted on his own defensive line. That makes his reaction more interesting than a Packers player reflexively criticizing a Bears move. He understands the appeal. He had already imagined the possibilities himself.Parsons said Tennessee’s willingness to trade Simmons surprised him, but he could understand a struggling team deciding it nee