The New Orleans Saints did not draft an offensive tackle, but traded for struggling former first-rounder Tyree Wilson and agreed to terms Sunday with veteran Anfernee Jennings. These moves once again raise questions about whether Cameron Jordan’s career in New Orleans is over.
“I don’t know,” he told Matthew Paras of the Times-Picayune at the pass-rusher’s charity pickleball tournament. “There’s nobody (the Saints signed) that produced like I did last year, so. My talent speaks for itself. And if things work out, great. I’ve always said I understand the business side of it, so I’ve never worried about it.”
The Saints traded a fifth-round pick to the Raiders for Wilson during the draft. The post is a real wildcard as the former tight end has some great attributes but in three seasons has never had more than 4.5 sacks. Wilson’s presence and the addition of Jennings (7.5 in six years in New England) could indicate New Orleans wants to see what the pass rush looks like without Jordan for the first time in 15 years. However, Jordan is right, neither is the proven combination he would provide against Chase Young.
Jordan, who could be coveted by several teams that didn’t dip into the draft pool for edge rushers, said he would like to make a decision soon, noting that he would prefer to be with a team when the on-court portion of OTAs begins in a few weeks.
“The landscape is becoming clearer,” Jordan said.
“You know, we made a move,” he added before correcting himself. “They just made a move (for Jennings). I said ‘we.’ So yeah, I think again they’ve made a lot of great moves, and honestly I hope things line up. And if not, I know what the landscape looks like for me next week.”
How the landscape develops will determine whether Jordan will refer to a new club as “we” for the first time since 2011.