Before the new league year got underway last week, veteran pass-rusher Cameron Jordan made it known that he wanted “to be valued” by a New Orleans Saints team that has been his only NFL home since the opening night of the 2011 draft.
During a recent appearance on former Saints teammate Terron Armstead’s “The Set” podcast, Jordan indicated he currently doesn’t feel valued by New Orleans as a free agent.
Cameron Jordan willing to make business decision amid free-agency journey
“As much as I love the city of New Orleans, as much as I want to be in the city of New Orleans … If things don’t add up to what I consider as value happen, I understand the business nature of it all,” Jordan explained, per Kevin Patra of the NFL’s website. “In my mind, I’m like, ‘of course,’ you see guys my age re-sign with a team because that’s the only team they’ve ever been with, and you’re like, ‘hell yeah, we love that,’ but that’s to his situation. That may not be to my situation. As football players, we can only control what we can control.”
For a piece published on Monday, ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked Jordan 14th overall among unsigned players. The veteran who turns 37 years old in July is coming off a season in which he tallied 10.5 sacks over 17 games with the 2025 Saints.
While it’s unclear what Jordan is looking to earn via what could go down as the final contract of his career, Daniel Popper of The Athletic previously predicted that Jordan could sign a one-year deal worth around $8M.
“You gotta be able to take your emotions out of it,” Jordan continued. “Of course, I’d love to be in New Orleans, but at the same time, if the cents doesn’t make sense, then we have to find our own path. Just because I love the city and the organization doesn’t mean the city and the organization has to love me back. The city definitely has and always will. I’m just saying, my love doesn’t mean it’s unrequited.”
Cameron Jordan not willing to play for these two teams?
Back in February, Jordan strongly hinted he wouldn’t want to sign with the New York Jets. It appears that the long-standing rivalry involving the Saints and the Atlanta Falcons could also impact where Jordan does and/or doesn’t land later this year.
“I got a lot of hate for one,” Jordan said about NFC South teams besides the Saints. “The Falcons. I’ve seen a Saints player go, in fact, I’ve seen two go. You know, I don’t trust them no more. And one sign back with us. I still don’t trust him. Kaden Elliss left to Atlanta. We just signed him back. Everybody, like, welcomed him back. I’ll welcome him back — I guess. Like how you don that trash red, and be like, ‘Hey, I’m back?'”
Jordan has not indicated that he will retire before the 2026 season gets underway. It remains to be seen if the Saints will make it worth his while to eventually call time on his playing days as a one-club man.