RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Monday brings us to 20 days until the New Orleans Saints play their 2026 regular season opener. The Saints will start their year up north when they travel to take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Veteran linebacker Pete Werner is wearing No. 20 for New Orleans.
A five-year veteran, Werner has been a constant in the New Orleans defense. However, he could be in a fight to keep his starting role in 2026. Werner is the latest in our Saints Player of the Day series.
Name (age): Pete Werner (27)
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 242 pounds
College: Ohio State Buckeyes
Relative Athletic Score: 9.52
Drafted: Round 2, 60th overall in 2021 (Saints)
NFL experience: 5 years
2026 salary cap hit: $3.94 million
Starring for Cathedral High School in Indiana, Werner was heavily recruited by nearly every midwestern power before committing to Ohio State. He didn't play much as a freshman in 2017 but had earned a starting role as a sophomore and finished with 8 tackles for loss and 3 sacks among his 58 total stops. In 2019, Werner's 64 solo stops were second on a Buckeyes team that advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. During a Covid-shortened 2020 campaign, Ohio State didn't lose until the CFP National Championship against Alabama. Werner earned 1st Team All- Big 10 recognition by leading the Buckeyes in tackles, which included 3 for loss and a sack. His play especially stood out during Ohio State's semifinal win over Clemson, as he continued outstanding play during the national championship game.
In the 2021 NFL draft, the Saints selected Werner late in Round 2, making him the fifth off-ball linebacker off the board. As a rookie, Werner split time at starter with Kwon Alexander, appearing in 15 games with eight starts. His tackling production gained him a starting role in 2022, when he finished with 80 total stops and was among the NFL leaders in tackles before slowed by a hamstring injury. Werner was even more productive in 2023, finishing second on the team with 93 tackles while adding an interception. In 2024, Werner's 92 stops again finished behind only Demario Davis.
Pete Werner had 81 tackles last season, third on the team. However, it's worth noting that the 62% of the defensive snaps he played was the lowest percentage since his rookie year. Werner's struggles in space were more evident than ever before, as opponents often made him a defensive liability. Down the stretch of 2025, rookie Danny Stutsman began to take more reps from Werner. Heading into 2026, Werner must improve his performance in the open field and make more big plays to hold off Stutsman and Isaiah Stalbird for playing time.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Pete Werner is the Saints Player of Day 20
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