Cameron Jordan, Saints
Getty
Defensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
The Chicago Bears can’t wait forever to add an edge-rusher to one of the worst pass-rushing groups in the NFL last season, and the team has the chance to act now and reunite defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with one of the best players he has ever coached.
The New Orleans Saints allowed eight-time Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan to become a free agent this year after a 10.5-sack campaign during his 15th professional season in 2025. Despite that production, the situational pass-rusher who can fill the precise role Chicago’s defense must cast is available for the value price of $6.8 million, per Spotrac.
Shanna McCarriston and Carter Bahns of CBS Sports on Tuesday, March 17 named the Bears a ‘logical destination’ for Jordan if he doesn’t return to New Orleans for the 16th consecutive year.
“Figuring out the defensive backfield is priority No. 1, but Bears coach Ben Johnson said at the NFL combine that creating more pressure is a ‘point of emphasis’ entering 2026,” they wrote. “If that means looking for help on the free agency market, Jordan will likely catch their attention.”
“Jordan spent a full decade playing for Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, so a reunion would be hard to pass up,” McCarriston and Bahns continued. “Plus, the Bears just opened up a bunch of cap space by agreeing to trade wide receiver D.J. Moore to the [Buffalo] Bills. They can now afford to bring Jordan aboard while also working to retain their own free agents.”
Cameron Jordan Fills Bears’ Need for Talented Situational Pass-Rusher
Cameron Jordan, Saints
GettyDefensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
He has played in 243 games over the course of his career, tallying 132 sacks and 175 tackles for loss over that span.
Jordan would play across from Montez Sweat in Chicago on obvious pass-rushing downs, while Dayo Odeyingbo would serve as the edge-setter on running downs and contribute to the pass-rush when called upon following an eventual return from the Achilles tear he suffered back in November.
Chicago also has Austin Booker heading into his third professional season and coming off a strong finish in 2025, during which he tallied 12 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Bears Could Look to Add Defensive End With No. 25 Pick in NFL Draft
Montez Sweat
GettyChicago Bears pass-rusher Montez Sweat.
The Bears also own the No. 25 pick in Round 1 of next month’s draft, though may look to add a defensive tackle in that spot who can offer strong contributions against the run and the pass while entering the starting lineup from Day 1.
Quality edge-rushers will remain available late in Round 1 if Chicago chooses to go that path, but the best pure pass-rushers will have come off the board before that and the Bears may find more value addressing the interior of the defensive line.
However, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN predicted in his most recent mock draft on Tuesday that Chicago will select defensive end Zion Young of Missouri.
“The Bears had 35 sacks (tied for 22nd) and a lowly 28.0% pressure rate (29th) last season,” Kiper wrote. “Despite struggling to find consistent quarterback pressure for a few years now, Chicago hasn’t used a top-50 pick on an edge-rusher since Leonard Floyd went ninth in 2016. Let’s change that. Young had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season, playing with power and a full-go motor. He’d bring some intensity to the Bears’ front.”