NFL

Saints pick up DE Jordan's 2015 option

Staff Writer

Plaquemine Post South

New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan celebrates a sack against the San Francisco 49ers last season. The Saints recently exercised their fifth-year option on Jordan.
POST SOUTH PHOTO/Peter Silas Pasqua

METAIRIE - The New Orleans Saints have exercised their fifth-year option on Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The one-year option is worth $6.969 million.

Jordan, 24, had a breakout year in the national spotlight in 2013 with a career-high 12.5 sacks and his first Pro Bowl invite.

But he has been a full-time starter and steady producer for the Saints ever since they drafted him with the 24th pick out of California in the 2011 draft.

The 6-foot-4, 287-pounder has proven to be a versatile lineman as both an end and tackle in 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. He has 21.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in his career.

This is the first year that these fifth-year options have been available to NFL teams as part of the new collective bargaining agreement that was completed in 2011.