The New Orleans Saints seemed to have turned a page in 2025. Under first-year head coach Kellen Moore, the Saints finished 6-11, but they showed fight down the stretch, going 4-1 to end the season. In the process, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough emerged as a potential long-term starter, which could trigger a youth movement in New Orleans.
So, where does All-Pro defensive end and franchise legend Cameron Jordan fit?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jordan “will not have a deal in place with New Orleans by next week” when the NFL’s new league year and free agency period officially open. That will allow Jordan, 36, to test the free agency market for the first time since New Orleans drafted him at No. 24 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Schefter additionally noted, “Jordan will play a 16th NFL season and is said to be open to leaving New Orleans.”
Jordan, a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, is the Saints’ all-time leader in career sacks (132), quarterback hits (248), and tackles for loss (175). A huge contributing factor to such high-level production has been Jordan’s otherworldly durability. Jordan has played in 243 of a possible 245 regular-season games. He had to sit out in Week 14 of the 2021 season on the COVID-19 reserve list, and he missed Week 11 of the 2022 season with an eye injury. That’s it.
Last season, Jordan posted 10.5 sacks across 17 regular-season games.
Jordan has repeatedly expressed a desire to only play for the Saints, but he showed a smidge of doubt in January. “The Saints have done nothing but show that they want me to be here,” Jordan said, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “Now, at what price? Some would say half off this last year. Can’t do that again.”
Teams can begin negotiating with impending unrestricted free agents at noon EST on March 9. The new league year and free agency officially open on March 11 at 4 p.m. EST.
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