Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has talked about how hard it is to acquire another good edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. While that's absolutely true, it has reached a point where it comes off as an excuse for failing to get it right.
As currently constructed, the Lions' Super Bowl window is narrowing. The time for excuses when it comes to adding the necessary pieces to go on another deep playoff run, and get to (or win!) a Super Bowl, is over.
TMZ Sports recently caught up with long-time New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. He talked glowingly about Tyler Shough as the quarterback of the future there, before the conversation moved to the eight-time Pro Bowler's situation as he heads toward free agency.
"If you get a 10-sack season, if I was 26, I’d be asking for top dollar” Jordan said. “Things I’ve never asked for is top dollar. All I’ve ever asked for is to be valued.”
After totaling six sacks over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Jordan rebounded with 10.5 sacks last season. His days of playing heavy snaps are behind him, heading toward his age-37 season, but he has been an ironman with just two missed games in his entire 15-year career.
Cameron Jordan just openly made his free agent pitch to the Lions
Jordan has spent his entire career in New Orleans, and he may not be inclined to play anywhere else. But the full extent of his comments to TMZ, noting a couple other players (Calais Campbell and Saints' teammate Demario Davis) who are getting it done at an advanced age, suggest he has no plans to retire this offseason.
How Jordan fits into the plan for the Saints is unclear, and maybe he has already gotten some indication he's not going to a valued part of it. Deeper numbers suggest the double-digit sack season he just had is not repeatable, but he remains a stout run defender.
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If Jordan wants to return to the the Saints but he feels they are not properly valuing him, signing with a contender would likely be his top priority. The Lions are in that class of teams, and head coach Dan Campbell was of course on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans for a handful of years (2016-2020) during Jordan's prime.
Jordan would fortify the veteran leadership in the Lions' locker room, and he would fit in seamlessly all the away around. Ideally he wouldn't be the only move to add an edge rusher this offseason, but his comments to TMZ could be a veiled message to Campbell that he wouldn't mind being in Detroit.