A Saints protection full of skilled performers has seen a rookie-contract cog develop into an everyday lately. In consequence, Pete Werner is not connected to that rookie deal.
The fourth-year linebacker agreed to phrases on an extension Thursday, in accordance with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who signifies this can be a three-year dedication. Werner signed a deal value greater than $25M, per Schefter, with $17.5M coming assured. The previous second-round decide might be tied to the Saints by way of the 2027 season.
Though we don’t but know the exact worth, this extension seems to fall in keeping with the off-ball linebacker market’s upper-middle class. Whereas market reassessments at working again and security have been mentioned extra usually, ILB paydays have dipped a bit lately. The previous two free-agency durations have produced a glut of second-level defenders whose contracts have are available in between $6M and $10M per yr. If the Werner deal’s base worth is certainly past $25M, the AAV would fall in keeping with the contracts Logan Wilson, Jordyn Brooks and Dre Greenlaw signed within the latest previous.
Solely 5 ILBs are at present tied to offers value greater than $12M each year and Patrick Queen‘s Steelers pact accommodates no ensures past 12 months 1. C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun additionally agreed to pay cuts (revisions that offered elevated ensures) this yr. Whereas this isn’t the very best period to be an off-ball ‘backer, groups depend on their anchors at these positions. The Saints have among the finest in Demario Davis, however Werner — at 25 — is 10 years youthful.
Werner emerged as a full-time participant final season, logging an 88 p.c snap price for a workload (920 defensive performs) that got here in properly above his earlier two seasons. The Davis sidekick opted for safety somewhat than head right into a contract yr. The Saints have now agreed to offers with Davis, Werner and Willie Homosexual this offseason. The Homosexual deal, nonetheless, checked in as a one-year, $3M accord.
Professional Soccer Focus was a lot decrease on Werner as a full-timer in comparison with his part-time work. After score the previous No. 60 total decide as its No. 5 off-ball ‘backer in 2021, PFF slotted him fortieth in 2022 and 67th in ’23. So far as conventional stats go, Werner racked up 93 tackles (4 for loss) and intercepted a cross final yr — his first with greater than 11 begins. The Ohio State product began 16 video games.
The Saints proceed to depend on Davis’ top-shelf versatility carrying into his mid-30s; PFF rated the ageless dynamo third on the place in 2023. Whereas betting towards Davis has been a dangerous proposition, Werner’s contract could properly place him on monitor to be the crew’s long-term LB possibility as soon as the crew’s 35-year-old pillar is out of the image.
New Orleans now has veteran contracts for Davis, Werner, Cameron Jordan, Chase Younger, Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu on protection. The crew additionally introduced in Justin Simmons for a go to on Wednesday. Going into his fourth season, Werner profiles as an necessary younger expertise on a protection that options some getting old cogs. The Saints will depend on him for the foreseeable future.
