It's been another season to forget for the New Orleans Saints. This was always going to be a slow route back into contention with a roster devoid of legitimate talent, but head coach Kellen Moore has at least shown flashes that suggest he is the right man to lead this franchise back to prosperity.
This offseason is a crucial one for the Saints. They are currently $8.52 million over the salary cap with 43 players under contract, so there is a lot of hard work and difficult choices ahead. One of those decisions centers on a longtime veteran stalwart whose time in New Orleans could be coming to an end.
One cannot accuse defensive end Cameron Jordan of lacking loyalty. The 2011 first-round pick has spent the entirety of his 15-year career in New Orleans, earning no fewer than eight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro honor. He was considered among the league's most devastating pass-rushing forces once upon a time, gaining 126 sacks to date. Unfortunately, although he's still playing at a relatively high level, Father Time is beginning to catch up quickly.
Cameron Jordan's future with the Saints beyond 2025 is murky
At 36 years old, nobody should expect anything less. Jordan's athleticism and explosiveness have waned over the last several seasons, but his savvy and football IQ remain impactful. Still, with the Saints clearly embarking on a changing of the guard, one has to wonder if this is his last season before either leaving the club or retiring.
It's hard to picture the Saints without Jordan. He's been a driving force throughout the good times and bad. He's an exceptional leader and a magnificent presence within the community. But all good things must come to an end at some point.
Perhaps Jordan could use free agency to see if he can spend one more year on a contender. The Saints look a long way off from that right now, and this will probably remain the case in 2026. Time is of the essence for the edge presence out of California, so a parting of the ways couldn't be entirely dismissed, at least from the outside looking in.
Jordan isn't the only established figure with his future hanging in the balance. The likes of Demario Davis and Taysom Hill are also aging and out of contract. Given the cost of keeping them around, some business decisions need to be made.
If this is the end of Jordan's time in New Orleans, he'll go down as one of the team's greatest ever players. And who knows, perhaps there will even be a place in Canton for him one day.