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Pass-rusher Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
The Chicago Bears have been central to trade rumors swirling around Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby over the last several days, but it appears the franchise will take a more frugal approach, which has opened the door to a short-term, yet quality, option out of the NFC South Division.
The New Orleans Saints chose earlier this week to allow 15-year NFL veteran and eight-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Cameron Jordan to enter unrestricted free agency when the new league year begins on March 11.
“Eight-time Pro-Bowl DE Cameron Jordan, who has spent his 15-year career in New Orleans and had 10.5 sacks last season, will not have a new deal in place with New Orleans by next week and now will hit free agency for the first time in his NFL career, per sources,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Thursday, March 5. “Jordan will play a 16th NFL season and is … open to leaving New Orleans.”
Bears Not in Talks to Sign Trey Hendrickson in Free Agency
GettyDefensive end Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jordan is a viable option for the Bears should they choose a short-term situational edge defender to round out the pass rush this offseason.
Schefter indicated that might prove the case via an appearance on a popular Chicagoland sports radio show Thursday, as he cast doubt on Crosby landing with the Bears and added the team has made zero noise with regards to top free agent pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, who will also become a free agent next week.
“Adam Schefter was just on @WaddleandSilvy. Didn’t seem convinced Maxx Crosby gets dealt, but did say he doesn’t see the #Bears in the driver’s seat for a deal right now,” Aaron Leming of 247 Sports wrote on social media. “Thinks they’ll go cheaper than [Tyler] Linderbaum at [center] (Biadasz/Cushenberry). No ties to Hendrickson.”
Bears Can Bridge Gap to Longterm Edge-Rusher With Cameron Jordan on 1-Year Deal
GettyDefensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.
Jordan played last season on a deal worth just north of $6 million and has earned nearly $150 million over the course of his professional career. Spotrac projects his market value in 2026 at $6.8 million.
He has tallied 175 tackles for loss and 132 total sacks across 243 regular-season games played for the Saints (242 starts). Jordan played all 17 games for New Orleans in 2025, though he has become more of a situational pass-rusher over the past two years, on the field for 48 percent and 54 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in those two campaigns, respectively.
That could work for Chicago, particularly if the team holds onto Dayo Odeyingbo after his Achilles tendon injury in November. Odeyingbo is a solid run defender from the defensive end position, and Jordan combined with Montez Sweat and rising edge-rusher Austin Booker entering his third professional season might be enough to solidify the group in 2025.
Another option in the vein of Jordan who is likely to prove more expensive is Khalil Mack, currently of the Los Angeles Chargers. Mack played with the Bears for four years between 2018-21 and made $18 million in L.A. last season. He will also be a free agent next Wednesday.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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