Pete Werner

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		73	408	2.5	1
2025		17	81	2.0	0
2024		13	92	0.0	0
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Saints struck a fair deal with Pete Werner's three-year, $22.5M extension, earning a C+ CVI that reflects solid value for a reliable linebacker. At $7.5M AAV, New Orleans is paying appropriate compensation for a rotational player who has carved out a consistent role in their defense without breaking into true starter territory. The 25-year-old Werner is entering his prime years, giving the Saints reasonable upside on this mid-tier investment as he continues developing within their system. With $11.2M guaranteed across three years, the contract structure provides manageable risk while securing depth at a critical position where injuries frequently create opportunities for expanded roles. This represents smart roster building by New Orleans — not flashy, but the type of steady veteran presence that championship defenses are built on, paying market rate for a player who knows his role and executes it well.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Pete's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Pete Werner delivers production that earns a B- performance grade against LB comps. His 81 tackles across 17 games in the 2025 season reflects solid accumulation at the position, marking him as a durable, high-volume contributor in the middle of the defense—the kind of linebacker who logs every snap and stays healthy. However, that tackle total masks a critical gap: just 2 sacks reveals minimal impact in the pass rush, a core expectation for a player earning $7.5M AAV in the modern NFL where edge production drives defensive valuations. Werner's full 17-game availability is a genuine strength in a league where linebacker durability has become increasingly valued, and his tackle volume demonstrates consistent assignment execution. Yet the media narrative entering 2026 casts a harsh shadow: widely characterized as one of New Orleans' weakest starters and dragged into trade speculation, Werner faces a make-or-break season where his statistical profile—respectable but unremarkable, bereft of All-Pro or Pro Bowl recognition—no longer insulates him from organizational doubt. At this juncture in his fifth season, he is a serviceable starter whose role hinges entirely on whether improved pass-rush production or a defensive scheme reset can shift the Saints' and media's perception of his fit.

How Pete Compares at the Position

Pete Werner ranks 92nd of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Pete between Deion Jones (B-) just ahead and Anthony Walker Jr. (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Pete Werner enters the 2026 season facing a harsh media reality, earning a D- sentiment grade that reflects widespread skepticism about his value to the Saints' defense. The linebacker has been publicly characterized as one of New Orleans' weakest starters, a narrative that has gained significant momentum across both media coverage and fan discussions. His statistical resume lacks the impact metrics typically expected from a player earning $7.5M AAV — modest sack production, limited takeaways, and zero All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections provide little defense against mounting criticism. The emergence of Werner's name in pre-draft trade speculation has only intensified scrutiny, suggesting even the Saints' front office may harbor doubts about his long-term fit. At his current contract value, Werner finds himself in a particularly vulnerable position where every tackle and coverage assignment will be dissected through the lens of cost-effectiveness. Without a dramatic performance turnaround, the fourth-year linebacker faces the prospect of becoming one of the NFL's more polarizing defensive starters heading into what could be a make-or-break season.