Cameron Jordan Rejoins Saints on 1-Year Deal for 16th and Likely Final Season

Q: Can a 37-year-old Jordan lead a rebuilding Saints team to defy their low Vegas win projections?

Probably not by himself, but Jordan can be a meaningful reason the Saints outperform a 6.5-win projection. The case for optimism is real. Jordan is coming off a strong 2025 season with 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 17 starts, and Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the league’s better run defenders. His durability remains exceptional, with only two missed games in 15 seasons, and his leadership matters on a roster that is turning over. For a team that went 6-11 last year, adding back a productive captain on a one-year deal is a stabilizing move, not just a sentimental one. The broader team context also helps. New Orleans is not a full teardown. Kellen Moore enters Year 2 with signs of defensive continuity, a favorable schedule and an NFC South that lacks a dominant favorite. The Saints also deepened their edge group with Chase Young, Carl Granderson and trade addition Tyree Wilson, which should keep Jordan fresher and more effective in a rotation. Still, expecting a 37-year-old edge rusher to “lead” a rebuild to a major surprise is too much. Vegas has the Saints at 6.5 wins for a reason: the offense still has to prove it can consistently support the defense, and age-related decline can come quickly for pass rushers. Jordan can help raise the floor, set the tone and swing a couple of games, but whether New Orleans beats its projection will depend more on quarterback play, overall health and Moore’s second-year progress than on Jordan alone.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 16

New Orleans brought back Cameron Jordan on a one-year incentive deal Tuesday, with the 36-year-old saying he will approach his 16th NFL season as "one final season."
Jordan had resisted another incentive-heavy contract earlier in the offseason but said he "humbled" himself to finish negotiations, with playing-time clarity helping seal his return after becoming a free agent in March.
Last season's similar reworked deal paid off: Jordan earned $2 million in bonuses after posting 10.5 sacks, reinforcing the Saints' push to keep a veteran pass rusher they did not replace in the draft.
Jordan leaves little doubt about his place in franchise history, holding the Saints' official sack record at 132 since 1982, while saying he still believes the 2026 team can make a Super Bowl run.