Eight-time Pro Bowl edge defender Cameron Jordan is arguably the most decorated name left on the free agent market, and he might find a new home in the coming days. A first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the California product was one of the game’s most dangerous pass rushers in the 2010s and remains an above-average starter despite his age. Starting and appearing in all 17 games for the Saints last season, Jordan finished his age-36 campaign with 10.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, 15 quarterback hits, and a 76.0 PFF grade, the 23rd-best mark out of 119 eligible players.
Cameron Jordan is not the elite player he once was, and his age will keep him from receiving a massive deal as a free agent. However, he can still be a dangerous threat for the right team, and could be a welcome veteran addition for a Super Bowl contender. That contender could be the Kansas City Chiefs, as Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports recently made his case for that pairing.
“The Chiefs have lost plenty on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, including Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Leo Chenal, Charles Omenihu, and Derrick Nnadi,” Dajani writes. “Kansas City could score Jordan on a ceap deal as the Chiefs look to rebound in 2026.”
Chiefs Projected to Sign Free Agent Cameron Jordan
As mentioned above, the Chiefs desperately need to do something to fix their defense. While they fixed their running back needs with the Kenneth Walker signing, the Super Bowl MVP’s presence won’t be enough to offset the loss on the other side of the ball. Trent McDuffie and Bryan Cook were two of the best at their respective positions, and Jaylen Watson is one of the better CB2’s in football.
Cameron Jordan doesn’t play in the secondary, but he can indirectly help the coverage unit. Seeing as the Chiefs no longer have the personnel to cover receivers and tight ends throughout the play, Kansas City should invest in someone capable of making life a nightmare for the opposing quarterback. After all, it doesn’t matter how open a receiver is if the quarterback is already on the ground or running for his life. Jordan is arguably the best pass rusher remaining, but can the Chiefs afford him?
Making the Money Work
The Kansas City Chiefs entered the offseason in salary cap hell, as they were well above the allotted spending limit. However, thanks to a series of restructures, releases, and trades, they now have approximately $19.6 million in available spending money. This number could change as new contract details come to light, but it’s safe to say they have plenty of financial wiggle room.
While every team must carry some cap space for in-season additions, they should have the financial liberty to sign Cameron Jordan as a free agent. While Jordan is still a good player, he won’t earn top dollar and certainly won’t require a long-term deal. This signing makes all the sense in the world, and Jordan would probably welcome the opportunity to spend his final years playing for one of the league’s more talented rosters.
Main Photo: Brett Davis – Imagn Images
