The Chicago Bears know they need more juice in their pass rush if they’re going to make a push to the Super Bowl. General manager Ryan Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen must work together to find solutions. Dayo Odeyingbo was a poor investment and now has a torn Achilles. Shemar Turner also tore his ACL. Dominique Robinson is a free agent. That leaves only Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. So not only do they lack a genuine star, but also depth. Some wonder whether Allen might reach out to his contacts to bring in an old friend: Cameron Jordan.
The man has carved out a Hall of Fame-caliber career with the New Orleans Saints, collecting 132 sacks in 15 seasons. However, his future is in question as he becomes a free agent next month. The Saints don’t look like a team expected to compete anytime soon. Will Jordan stay anyway, or use what gas is left in the tank to chase the ring that has eluded him? Adam Jahns of CHGO believes there is a good chance Allen will try to recruit the defensive end to Chicago, knowing he can help boost their pass rush.
Cameron Jordan offers multiple reasons to think he can still go.
For one, he’s coming off a season with 10.5 sacks at age 36, so it’s not like being an older player has completely stymied his productivity. Part of that is a remarkable streak of durability. Jordan has only missed one game in his career. So he’s both incredibly tough and takes good care of himself. He’s also known for being outspoken and brash. The guy has an edge that gets under opponents’ skin. Chicago seems to like having guys like that on the roster, as evidenced by C.J. Gardner-Johnson last year.
The only sticking point would be price. Chicago won’t have loads of cap space to throw around. Spotrac places Jordan’s market value at $6.8 million. That means he will likely get around $7-8 million, which should be affordable for the Bears. It’d likely be a one-year deal. This way, if the ageless defensive end does finally fizzle out, the team won’t be on the hook for long-term money. Conversely, if he gives them a year comparable to 2025, their pass rush will be significantly improved.
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Signing Jordan would only be the first step.
It would likely coincide with Poles doubling up by taking somebody in the 1st round of the draft. It’s actually a pretty common practice among NFL teams. The tactic has found success. Green Bay executed it to perfection in 2019 with Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary. That trio helped the Packers reach back-to-back NFC championships. Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner helped Minnesota go 14-3 in 2024. The Bears can utilize this same tactic if they execute it properly.
| Year | Team | Free Agent Signed | 1st Round Pick Drafted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Vikings | Jonathan Greenard | Dallas Turner |
| 2024 | Dolphins | Calais Campbell | Chop Robinson |
| 2023 | Raiders | Jordan Willis | Tyree Wilson |
| 2022 | Jaguars | Arden Key | Travon Walker |
| 2022 | Jets | Jacob Martin | Jermaine Johnson II |
| 2019 | Packers | Za’Darius Smith / Preston Smith | Rashan Gary |
| 2015 | Jaguars | Jared Odrick | Dante Fowler Jr. |
Cameron Jordan should be able to give them a temporary boost, allowing Allen time to properly break in a rookie without throwing them into the lineup immediately. Or the Bears could use this as an opportunity to find a defensive tackle who can give them more push up front. The possibilities become far more interesting that way. The hard part will be convincing a player who has never worn a uniform for another team to join a different one.
