With the Saints adding two pass rushers, it signifies the potential end of the Cam Jordan era in New Orleans.
For the first time in likely his entire NFL career, Cameron Jordan had to catch himself saying “we” when referencing the New Orleans Saints. His correction to “they” illustrates a real uncertainty about his future with the franchise after 15 seasons in the league. His future was compounded by the recent additions of Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings. The Saints have yet to re-sign Jordan, signaling a possible end to Jordan’s era in New Orleans where he’s spent his entire NFL career. But Jordan still thinks his production speaks for itself at a high level.
The Saints recently traded a fifth rounder to the Las Vegas Raiders for Wilson and agreed to terms with Jennings on Sunday. Wilson is a former first rounder with upside but has never had more than 4.5 sacks in three seasons. Jennings has put up 7.5 sacks in six years with the New England Patriots. Neither of the two exactly compensate for what New Orleans would lose in Jordan opposite Chase Young. Jordan recorded 10.5 sacks last season alone, blowing both additions for the team out of the water. He has a career 132 sacks in Black and Gold. If Jordan isn’t going to remain a Saint, he’d like to know sooner rather than later so he can be with a team when OTAs field work begins.
Here is the full story from Saints Roundtable writer Jason Aponte on the future for Jordan and what it would mean for him to no longer be in New Orleans.
There are certainly several teams who could pursue a veteran proven edge rusher like Jordan, especially those who didn’t pick that position up in the draft. It would mark his first home change in the NFL, as Jordan has been a Saint since 2011.
Jordan hinted that things should be clearing up soon within the next week, but whether that resolution keeps him in a New Orleans uniform or not remains to be seen. Should the two sides move on, it would mark the end of a legendary chapter in franchise history.