The Chicago Bears still haven’t added an edge-rusher this offseason, and the pool of talent is going to start thinning soon.
Cameron Jordan is among the most logical candidates for Chicago given his career production, his stat line last year and his connection to second-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. However, the Bears have not leapt at the opportunity to ink Jordan, or anyone else, to address what was among the worst pass-rush groups in the NFL last season.
Mina Kimes of ESPN predicted during a podcast earlier this week, while she and Bill Barnwell were discussing the Green Bay Packers‘ situation on the edge and their need to sign a veteran contributor, that Jordan will return to the New Orleans Saints for his 16th season in the Big Easy.
“Also, Cam Jordan, who I feel like will re-sign in New Orleans … was actually pretty good last year,” Kimes said.
Cameron Jordan Can Offer Bears Solid Production at Big Value in 2026
GettyDefensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
Jordan, an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, tallied 15 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups for the Saints last year on a $6.05 million contract. Spotrac projects his market value at just $6.8 million in 2026, despite that production.
Across 15 seasons in the league, Jordan has 175 tackles for loss and 132 sacks, which should afford him a reasonable shot at the Hall of Fame when he’s finally done, though he appeared far away from the end of his career in 2025.
Now that the league calendar has moved beyond the point that free agency signings will impact teams’ compensatory picks for 2027, such as the four that the Packers expect to get from the NFL next April, there could be something of a run on veteran talent. That is particularly true of premier positions like edge-rusher, where Jordan is among a handful of quality options.
Bears Run Risk of Missing Out on Top Remaining Talent by Betting too Heavily on Player Development
GettyPass-rusher Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
Analysts have projected Jordan to other teams beyond the Saints this offseason, though the Bears have been the franchise most frequently linked to the defensive end because Jordan played for Allen across a 10-year span, first with Allen functioning as defensive coordinator and then as head coach for the better part of three seasons.
“I refuse to believe that [GM] Ryan Poles thinks his defensive line is adequate,” Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron wrote in April. “By their actions, the New Orleans Saints seem done with Cam Jordan, and I think a familiar face and scheme with Dennis Allen, with the Bears’ need at DE, is a perfect fit for Jordan. Without Jordan, this room is a disaster.”
Jordan will turn 37 years old before the start of the 2026 campaign, but he intends on playing and will clearly get a shot somewhere after posting double-digit sacks for the seventh time in his career as a 36-year-old last season.
Chicago has some young, albeit relatively unproven, talent in the position group (Austin Booker, Shemar Turner) that it may continue to develop and see where the pass rush is at early in the season.
That might be the most frugal path forward, but its a major risk for a team that was near the bottom of the league in pass rush win rate and quick pressures last year and relied heavily on turnover rate/production to remain in games when the offense wasn’t clicking.
Bears Now Predicted to Miss Out on 3-Time All-Pro Pass Rusher