Former Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Pete Werner has signed a three-year, $25 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $17.5 million in guaranteed salary.
Werner spent four years at Ohio State, where he originally arrived in 2017.
After playing only a minor role in his freshman year, Werner made his breakthrough in his sophomore year with 58 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and seven passes defended.
Although this was Werner’s best season in Columbus statistically, he still established himself as a very productive member of the Buckeyes’ defense in his final two years.
Werner recorded 64 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries in 2019 and finished his college career with 54 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The 25-year-old was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Werner wasn’t exactly a star in New Orleans, but he was more than serviceable. In his rookie season, he recorded 62 stops in 15 games, and in 2022, he recorded 80 tackles and two forced fumbles in 12 games.
Last year, Werner finished the season with 93 tackles, half a sack, one interception and two fumble recoveries. It was the best season of his NFL career to date. He was second in tackles for the Saints behind Demario Davis.
We will see how Werner can continue his rise for New Orleans in 2024.
