Cameron Jordan is likely nearing the end of his Saints tenure, but at least one more contract could be agreed to in the near future. The franchise mainstay is in talks on an extension, as detailed by Brett Martel of the Associated Press.
The 33-year-old has one year remaining on the $52.5M extension he signed in 2019. That deal has been restructured (along with many others amongst Saints veterans in recent years), leaving Jordan with a 2023 cap hit of $15.1M. During the first of several void years after that, however, his cap hit is set to spike to $23.3M.
Jordan represents a logical extension candidate given his continued production deep into his career. He posted a team-leading 8.5 sacks in 2022, which helped earn him a sixth consecutive (and eighth overall) Pro Bowl nod. It also gave the 2010s All-Decade team member a career sack total of 115.5, moving him past Ricky Jackson for the all-time franchise lead in that department.
Doug Hendrickson, Jordan’s agent, commented on his desire to get a deal of “at least” two years in length completed before training camp. Failing that, he added, contract talks would likely be tabled until after the season, when the prospect of free agency would loom over negotiations. The Saints are one of many teams projected to be well over the cap in 2024 as things currently stand, something which could provide incentive for the team to solidify Jordan’s financial future for the next few years.
Jordan should once again be in line for a starting role next season, with fellow defensive end Marcus Davenport having departed in free agency. New Orleans has focused on their edge rushing corps in recent years, though, using a first-round pick in 2022 on Payton Turner and a second-rounder this past draft on Isaiah Foskey. Those two will look to grow into significant contributors under the tutelage of Jordan, who acknowledged that this upcoming contract will likely be his last.
“If we get a deal done, that’ll be probably the final years of my career here,” he said, adding that he does not envision himself transitioning to a rotational role later in his career. “Whatever happens, happens. In terms of how we play, how we want to attack offenses, that’s what I’m here for.”
More must-reads: