Saints fans almost take Cam Jordan for granted after all these years. The longtime Saints defensive end has been one of the most prominent faces of the franchise since being drafted 24th overall by the team in 2011. However, with the Saints in rebuilding mode and trying to avoid dead cap space, there could be changes made to the roster that would've previously been considered inconceivable. That includes potentially parting ways with Cam Jordan, which would shake some followers of the black & gold to their core.
According to WWL's Jeff Nowak, there are several veterans who are potentially on the chopping block due to age and contract costs. Those team leaders include Demario Davis, Taysom Hill, and the much-lauded Cam Jordan. "The Saints could have theoretically extended or resigned Alonte Taylor, Demario Davis, Taysom Hill, and Cam Jordan. The fact that none of that has happened yet is telling to me that they're going to see what plays out," Nowak noted.
While the future is uncertain, Nowak does believe the best spot for Cam Jordan to end up next season would be back with the New Orleans Saints. That's not only because the veteran defensive end is still freakishly productive on the field, but because he brings a familiarity and tons of intangibles to the team. "He's never even tested the market to get an idea of what it might be," Nowak points out. "I imagine he has a lot more intrinsic value from the Saints organization than another team. You're talking about a team leader, someone who you know can lead that position group and have a positive impact on younger players. There's also years of knowing and trusting that player," he went on to note.
One other looming factor clouding the future is dead cap charges that would be associated with some of their veteran players leaving in the offseason. This is due to how the team has managed their salary cap in the past. Ultimately, Nowak believes if there's any team that would be willing to deal with additional cap charges associated with Cam Jordan, that would be the Saints. Between the mutual familiarity and years of built-up goodwill between the player and organization, Nowak expects the veteran defensive end to be back with the team next season. It would be hard for a great many die-hard Saints fans to imagine Cam Jordan in any other uniform and many diehards have their fingers crossed they'll never have to see the sight.