It’s not parity that does that, it’s poorly managing the cap. Teams that over spend for talent need to split up their line because they can’t afford them. Teams that manage their cap well don’t.
There is a big element of luck in “managing the cap.” Russell Wilson on a rookie contract allowed the Seahawks to spend huge money elsewhere on their roster. Now, he’s getting paid like a Super Bowl winning QB, and the roster is suddenly a little spare.
What no one ever talks about is that Tom Brady is married to one of the richest female celebrities on Earth. He is NOT the breadwinner in that family. As such, he has the ability to play for a below-market contract knowing that he’s highly unlikely to blow through his earnings after football.
Most football players know they are one bad step away from a life back in the workforce so they need to get as much as possible as soon as possible.
Brady - who probably has some sort of handshake deal for a piece of the Patriots after he retires as well as a billionaire wife - doesn’t have that issue.