Who could replace Cameron Jordan?
By: Jake Rajala
Cameron Jordan is bound to be a free agent this offseason. He turns 37 in July, so it would be hard to foresee him playing more than a year. I also expect Jordan to leave somewhere where there is a better chance of winning a Super Bowl. If he doesn’t leave, there’s a real chance he retires. So, I’m going to lay out replacement options for him.
Khalil Mack
Yes, I know Khalil Mack is 34 years old. Well, he has familiarity with the Saints defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley. Mack had 17 sacks in 2023, when Staley was in town. Mack has fierce run stopping ability, along with the agility to harass the opposing QB. Mack only had 5.5 sacks this season, but he also had four forced fumbles.
Trey Hendrickson
“Tell the world I’m coming home”
The once third round pick Trey Hendrickson started his impressive potential Hall of Fame career with the Saints. It would be fitting for him to finish his journey in NOLA. In 2020, Hendrickson recorded 13.5 sacks. He also notched 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 17.5 sacks in 2024 with the Bengals. Hendrickson is 31, so he may only have a few seasons left.
Kwity Paye
The former first round pick Kwity Paye is the best combination of production and youth (27 years old) at the DE free agency room. He had 8.5 sacks in 2023, 8 sacks in 2024, and 4 sacks last season. He also had six tackles for loss and 39 combined tackles.
Leonard Floyd
The former Bears DE Leonard Floyd only had 3.5 sacks last season. I still believe he can be effective with a solid rotation. He unleashed 8.5 sacks in 2024 and 10.5 sacks in the season prior. Floyd is 33, so he will likely look for the best offer before he retires. The Saints may not afford the top-tier edge rushers and have to fall back on somewhat average edge players.
Kyle Van Noy
The former Patriots defensive end Kyle Van Noy is on his last legs. It’s similar to when the Saints brought in Paul Kruger. He only had 1.5 sacks for the Saints, but he brought pressure often. In 2024, he recorded 12.5 sacks. He had a dip in physical ability and less reps than usual, so he got 2.5 sacks. I believe he can be a 4-6 sack pass rusher right now.
Honorable Mention
Marcus Davenport
I know many Saints fans may hate to hear it, but Marcus Davenport could be a great value pickup. He has freakish athletic ability. He was once the Saints best overall defender. Davenport is still 29 years old, so there’s time to turn around his career.
The Saints always had a few quality edge rushers on the roster. I’d love to see them keep that philosophy, especially if Jordan retires or leaves elsewhere. At least, Chase Young is coming off a career season (where he had 10 sacks in 12 games), and they also have Carl Granderson (11 tackles for loss).
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