New Cameron Jordan Quote on Potential Saints Exit, Contract amid 2026 NFL Free Agency

Veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan is hoping to return to the New Orleans Saints this offseason, but it sounds like he is open to the possibility of continuing his career elsewhere.

While speaking about his free agency during an appearance on former teammate Terron Armstead's The Set with T.Stead podcast, Jordan revealed that while he'd prefer to stick with the only franchise he's ever known, a potential deal would have to make sense for both sides.

"As much as I love the city of New Orleans, as much as I want to be in the city of New Orleans … If things don't add up to what I consider as value happen, I understand the business nature of it all," he said (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com). "In my mind, I'm like, 'of course,' you see guys my age re-sign with a team because that's the only team they've ever been with, and you're like, 'hell yeah, we love that,' but that's to his situation. That may not be to my situation.

"As football players, we can only control what we can control," he continued. "… You gotta be able to take your emotions out of it. Of course, I'd love to be in New Orleans, but at the same time, if the cents doesn't make sense, then we have to find our own path. Just because I love the city and the organization doesn't mean the city and the organization has to love me back. The city definitely has and always will. I'm just saying, my love doesn't mean it's unrequited."

Jordan has played for the Saints since being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He's one of the best defensive players in franchise history, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro selections, including first-team honors in 2017.

The 15-year veteran has continued to play at a high level, leading New Orleans with 10.5 sacks in 2025. He's only missed two games in his career, and he would bring leadership to any locker room he lands in for the 2026 season.

Jordan went on to make it clear that he knows his value, so the Saints could lose him if they don't meet his expectations for his next contract.

"I came in knowing, after a 10.5-sack season, 15 TFLs, 40-some tackles, alright, we have another season like that, we crack deep in the top 10," he said. "And at the same time, I'm also accepting the fact that at 36, everybody wants to go younger. Younger doesn't mean more proof than what is presented. But potential gives the league a lot. There's a set value that I have in my mind. Value is to the eye of the beholder, at this point. Value means position, rotation, monetary, sure, but more along the lines of if I want to get 10, 12, 13 sacks this next season, then I need to be in the best position to do so. And that could be at the Saints. Hell, it could be at the Miami Dolphins. It could be … It can't be Cleveland or Buffalo or Green Bay, but … it could be. It could be."