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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could still reunite with Cameron Jordan in free agency.

The Denver Broncos’ wait is officially over.

The Broncos can finally go after veteran options like Cameron Jordan in free agency, if they so choose, without fear of the consequences.

Jordan has an extended history with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, and remains productive heading into his 16th season in the NFL. He is certainly ready to find a home, even if it is not with the New Orleans Saints.

Broncos Get Good News as Deadline Passes

Payton and the Broncos were one win away from the Super Bowl, and they did well to mitigate losses on their roster while also upgrading in areas like wide receiver with a trade for Jaylen Waddle.

However, there remain questions about how they will address the departure of starting defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, and Jordan could be part of the solution.

That is particularly true with the deadline for free agents impacting compensatory picks passing.

“Per NFL’s CBA, the compensatory free-agent period ends at 2:00 p.m. MT today. Means any FAs signed will no longer affect any ’27 comp picks earned in initial wave of FA,” the Denver Post’s Luca Evans reported on X on April 27. “#Broncos will now be free to maneuver if they please while preserving ’27 comp pick from JFM leaving.

“Plenty of intriguing FA left on market for Denver. DL like Cam Jordan + Calais Campbell, linebackers/safeties aplenty, veteran offensive linemen. Would not be surprised if they added a name.”

Franklin-Myers, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason, started 31 of the 33 games he played for the Broncos last season.

The Broncos have incumbent options, like veteran Malcolm Roach, on hand to replace him.

They also drafted Texas A&M’s Tyler Onyedim in Round 2 of the 2026 draft, one year after selecting Sai’vion Jones in the fourth round. Moreover, the Broncos have backups Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson, both of whom out-snapped Jones in 2025.

Still, there is at least some belief that the Broncos could explore veteran options in the next phase of free agency, where Jordan remains.

Cameron Jordan Gets Honest Amid Broncos Ties

Payton and the Saints selected Jordan with the 24th overall pick of the 2011 draft, and the Broncos’ HC was in the same role in New Orleans for the defender’s first 11 NFL seasons.

Jordan earned seven of his eight Pro Bowls and all three of his All-Pro selections (First Team in 2017, Second Team in 2018 and 2019) while Payton was his head coach in New Orleans. He remains productive, recording 10.5 sacks for the Saints in 2025.

He still saw the Saints sign Anfernee Jennings and trade for Tyree Wilson this offseason.

“There’s nobody (the Saints acquired) who produced the way I did last year, so. My talent speaks for itself. And if things work out, phenomenal. I’ve always said I understand the business side to it, so I’ve never worried about it,” Jordan said of the moves, per NOLA.com’s Matthew Paras on April 26.

“They [Saints] made plenty of great moves, and honestly, I hope things do align. And if not, I’ll know what the landscape looks like for me in the next week.”

Time will tell if the Broncos are the next NFL home for Jordan, who can afford to be selective with $146 million in career earnings. To that end, the Broncos did not sign J.K. Dobbins until June 2025.