It's no secret the San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard by injuries this year, and the latest bite from that pesky injury bug has resulted in Nick Bosa being lost for the season with a torn right ACL.
For the time being, it looks as if the Niners will turn to Bryce Huff to take the snaps on the opposite end of the defensive line from rookie Mykel Williams, but one has to assume general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are exploring outside options.
One of the biggest trade targets mentioned thus far has been 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. We also recently took a look at a trio of pass-rushers still on their respective rookie contracts who could come in and contribute.
Another option recently suggested by Garrett Kerman of ClutchPoints is 15th-year veteran Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints, who is undoubtedly an intriguing alternative.
"With a championship-caliber roster still intact and an offense capable of keeping pace with anyone, general manager John Lynch cannot afford to let this season hinge on the void left by Bosa’s absence," Kerman wrote.
"That is why a trade pursuit of veteran defensive end Cam Jordan from the New Orleans Saints makes too much sense to ignore. Jordan is a proven leader, a relentless pass rusher, and one of the most consistent defensive linemen of his generation. While he may not be at his peak prime, his production and veteran savvy would give San Francisco an immediate replacement to stabilize its defense."
It's hard to argue anything Kerman says here.
No, Jordan isn't the player he was when he earned eight Pro Bowl selections in the 10-year stretch from 2013 to 2022. But make no mistake about it; the 36-year-old can still get the job done.
Okay, so his pass-rushing ability isn't the greatest these days. But that didn't stop him from logging 1.5 sacks in New Orleans' season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. And as far as his ability to stop the run, his 78.0 run-defense PFF grade currently ranks eighth among every edge defender in the NFL.
Jordan's best quality at this point, however, may be his durability, which the Niners obviously need right now. Since joining the league in 2011, the Cal product has missed just two games, appearing in 229 of a possible 231 regular-season contests.
Jordan's loyalty to the Saints has been admirable, but he's obviously running out of chances to win a ring. And New Orleans certainly won't be competing for much of anything this year. This is an easy low-risk, high-reward kind of a situation for San Francisco.
He has no contract beyond this season, so the Niners don't have to worry about anything for next year. Additionally, his cap number is less than $10 million, which is affordable, and it's not as if San Francisco would be on the hook for all of it anyway. And one would think sending a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick to New Orleans would be good enough to get a trade done.
This is genuinely an option worth exploring.