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New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The Chicago Bears didn’t love the options available to them in the NFL draft to improve the defense’s beleaguered pass rush, but that doesn’t mean acquisitions aren’t still on the way.

Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron recently predicted that eight-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Cameron Jordan will be a member of the Bears’ 53-man roster come final cut day in late August, even though he remains a free agent as of Tuesday, April 28.

“I refuse to believe that [Bears general manager] Ryan Poles thinks his defensive line is adequate,” Zimmerman wrote. “By their actions, the New Orleans Saints seem done with Cam Jordan, and I think a familiar face and scheme with Dennis Allen, with the Bears’ need at DE, is a perfect fit for Jordan. Without Jordan, this room is a disaster.”

“With Jordan and [Montez] Sweat as your starters, and Dayo [Odeyingbo], [Austin] Booker and [Shemar] Turner rotating behind them … the edge suddenly becomes a lot stronger,” Zimmerman continued.

Cameron Jordan Can Offer Bears Considerable Value at Edge-Rusher Next Season

GettyCameron Jordan, formerly of the New Orleans Saints.

Jordan is among a handful of situational pass-rushers who could improve Chicago’s below-average pass rush, though he arguably makes the most sense because of his connection to Allen.

Allen was either the defensive coordinator or the head coach of the Saints across a 10-year stretch between 2015-2024. Jordan was a member of the New Orleans defense that entire time and played almost all of his best seasons with Allen as a prominent member of the coaching staff.

Jordan will play next season at 37 years old, but he remained highly effective in 2025, tallying 15 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

His market value is approximately $6.8 million on a new one-year contract, and Chicago can offer Jordan a landing spot with a franchise that won the NFC North Division last year, hosted and won a playoff game, and came within one score in overtime from a berth in the conference championship.

Bears Have Added to Interior of Defensive Line, Still Need Help in Pass Rush

GettyDefensive end Cameron Jordan, formerly of the New Orleans Saints.

Zimmerman isn’t the first analyst to pitch a Jordan-Allen reunion in the Windy City, as the team attempts to retool and defend its first division title since 2018.

Shanna McCarriston and Carter Bahns of CBS Sports suggested Jordan as an option for the Bears back in mid-March.

Bears coach Ben Johnson said at the NFL combine that creating more pressure is a “point of emphasis” entering 2026.

Jordan spent a full decade playing for Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, so a reunion would be hard to pass up.

The Bears added considerable defensive tackle help, albeit mostly in the margins, over the course of free agency. Chicago inked Neville Gallimore, Kentavious Street and James Lynch in March before drafting Jordan van den Berg out of Georgia Tech in Round 6 and adding Jayden Loving of Wake Forest as an undrafted free agent.

Johnson and Allen may be content rolling into the summer with the group of DTs currently on the roster, while reserving the right to add a proven veteran based on how offseason work progresses.

But the team has added nothing to its pass rush off the edge, so be it Jordan or some other veteran specialist on a short-term deal, Bears fans should expect at least one more pocket disruptor to join the fold prior to the start of training camp.