It's about opportunity costs and the danger that you end up being forced to keep a guy after he declines and is no longer a good player. Unfortunately, Cam Jordan is an object lesson on why it's better to lose a guy a year too early than a year too late. Especially when you had to add void years to their contract in order to get the deal done. If we had not given Jordan that deal, the money could have been spent on good player that is not declining.
And I love Cam and what he has done for this community, but the players know it's a business and it's why they won't sign for below market value. (Brees being an exception.) And it's why the team has to treat it like a business too.