Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is planning to return for his 15th NFL season in 2025, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football.
Jordan has one year remaining on his current deal with the Saints, but the team is already almost $64MM over the NFL’s projected 2025 salary cap, per OverTheCap. A release with a post-June 1 designation would save the Saints $11MM of salary cap space next year, though the team would have to absorb almost $24MM in dead cap hits across 2025 and 2026.
This isn’t the first time Jordan has faced a potential end to his time in New Orleans. He’s become accustomed to treating the team’s final home game each year as if it could be his last in the Superdome, according to Triplett.
If the Saints do part ways with Jordan, he will face a complicated free agency market this offseason. To start, he’s 35 years old with just 5.0 sacks in the last two years after 11 straight seasons with at least 7.5. Jordan has yet to miss a game in his career, but his snap share has steadily dropped since he turned 30, reaching a career-low 47% this year. He would likely need to take a pay cut from his current $13.25MM per-year average, though with over $125MM in career earnings, Jordan is more likely to be chasing another Super Bowl ring than a final payday.
He also wants to stay at defensive end instead of moving inside to defensive tackle, per Triplett. Jordan has spent the vast majority of his career as an edge defender in the Saints’ 4-3 scheme. At 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds, he has the size to play along the interior, but believes he will be most effective on the outside. However, teams with a 3-4 defense – which tend to assign more coverage responsibilities to edge defenders – may only see Jordan as a designated pass rusher. Still, most teams primarily use nickel personnel, so Jordan should be able to find a new defensive end gig if he leaves New Orleans.