The curious case of Cameron Jordan, elite NFL defender

For most of this season, Drew Brees has played the role of Benjamin Button, turning back the clock, turning on the fountain of youth, watching others age around him while he aged like fine wine, seeming to look younger by the week. He is the heart and soul of the offense, helping lead the New Orleans Saints to an 11-2 record and currently sitting in the No. 1 spot in the NFC with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

While the offense was brilliant for 11 weeks at championship form, it has slowed a bit over the last two weeks.

Defensively, the Saints continue to turn up the heat, improving on a weekly basis toward championship form. Since beating the Los Angeles Rams 45-35 on Nov. 4, the Saints defense has allowed just 65 points in its last five games, an average of just 13 points per game over that stretch.

The leader of that group is eight-year veteran Cameron Jordan.

Like Brees, Jordan personifies professionalism on every level.

Jordan is content to button up the opposition, playing the run and pass as well as any defensive lineman in the NFL. It is nothing new.

Jordan does it without fanfare.

A great team player, outstanding family man and overall great guy who is universally respected by teammates, coaches and media, Jordan deserves more credit than he gets.

While those of us who cover him and watch him on a regular basis deeply appreciate what he does on a week-to-week basis, praise on a national level has been slow, fleeting, even invisible at times.

When it comes to the best players in the NFL up front on defense, two names always surface in the national conversation.

We constantly hear about the exploits of defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Rams and outside linebacker Khalil Mack of the Bears.

Both are superb players with great talent on very good teams. Both attract double teams quite a bit. So, too, does Jordan, who happens to be on a very good team as well.

Here is a an in-depth look at the three players.

Through 13 games, Jordan has 41 tackles, 18 quarterback hits and 12 sacks. He has forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and has five passes which he has broken up. He has two sacks in three consecutive games, a marvelous accomplishment. Last year, Jordan had 62 tackles, including 13 sacks and 28 quarterback hits. He forced a pair of fumbles, had an interception return for a touchdown and broke up 11 passes.

Mack, who is routinely talked about as being the best in the NFL, is having a good year for the Bears. Mack has 36 tackles, 12 quarterback hits and 10 sacks. He has forced six fumbles, a remarkable number, and has a pair of fumble recoveries. He has an interception return for a touchdown and has broken up four passes. Mack has 50.5 sacks in his five-year career to go with 339 tackles. He has 96 quarterback hits with 75 tackles for loss, 15 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries with one interception. He has broken up 15 passes. Mack was first-team All-Pro in 2015-16 and has made three straight Pro Bowls.

Donald, who is routinely talked about as being the best player at any position in the NFL, is having a good year for the Rams. He has been brilliant, recording a league-best 16.5 sacks, along with 46 tackles total, 33 quarterback hits and 20 tackles for loss. Donald has forced four fumbles, recovered a pair of fumbles and broken up one pass.

In his five years in the league, Donald has 55.5 sacks to go with 250 tackles, 141 quarterback hits and 92 tackles for loss. He has forced 13 fumbles and recovered four fumbles with no interceptions. He has broke up 13 passes. Donald has earned first-team All-Pro honors the last three seasons (2015-17) and has made four straight Pro Bowls.

Jordan, who is never talked about among the best in the NFL nationally, has been brilliant in the same time period. In his last five seasons, Jordan has 50 sacks to go with 303 tackles, seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Jordan has 123 quarterback hits and 87 tackles for loss. He has two interceptions and 43 passes broken up.

Adding to his brilliance, Jordan has a tremendous knack for getting his arms up in the passing lane, particularly when double-teamed, and batting down passes. Jordan finally got his due last season, earning first team All-Pro honors. He has earned Pro Bowl honors three times (2013, 2015, 2017).

The picture is clear.

Jordan has earned recognition as an elite player in the NFL. He deserves it. His numbers and productivity are comparable, even favorable in several areas, to Donald and Mack. He is as good against the run as he is against the pass. He plays hard, all the time.

Now fourth all-time in franchise history with 71.5 sacks, Jordan is rapidly moving closer to the top of the list. With three regular season games remaining, Jordan has a shot at catching Pat Swilling for third. Swilling, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991, recorded 76.5 sacks in seven seasons.

Looking ahead, Wayne Martin ranks second in Saints history with 82.5 sacks. Barring injury, Jordan will get to that number as well in the not-too-distant future. Of course, Rickey Jackson is the all-time leader with 115 sacks, a number that is likely to stand for many years to come.

Jordan has been a remarkably consistent player. After learning in his rookie season of 2011, Jordan has 70.5 sacks in his last seven seasons.

While Brees, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead (when healthy) are clear stars and Demario Davis and Sheldon Rankins are emerging stars, Jordan is as important as all of those players are. He is the heart and soul of the Saints defense, as Brees is to the offense.

As the clock inevitably ticks forward, Jordan will inevitably slow down at some point. That point is nowhere in sight. While you cannot turn back time, Jordan continues to turn back opponents on a weekly basis, earning every dollar he gets. The respect that we have for him is sure to follow on the national level, isn’t it? If not, it will be even more curious to ponder.