NFL CAREER – Selected by the Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, Pete Werner has become a mainstay in the New Orleans defense, appearing in 27 games with 19 starts, posting 138 tackles (91 solo), three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Werner produced an impressive sophomore campaign in 2022 where he appeared in 12 games with 11 starts, recording 79 tackles (55 solo), three passes defensed and two forced fumbles and one special teams stop as New Orleans ranked fifth in total defense. Heading into 2023, the third-year pro will look to continue ascending as one of the league's top young linebackers.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 6/8/21; Selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round (60th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2022 – Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts (did not open season finale) at WLB, recording 79 tackles (55 solo), three passes defensed and two forced fumbles and one special teams stop as New Orleans ranked fifth in total defense. Despite missing four games with an ankle injury, ranked third on team in tackles…In opening win at Atlanta, Sept. 11, started and played on special teams and tallied 12 tackles (career-high 11 solo), a stop for loss, first-career forced fumble and a coverage stop…Vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, recorded eight tackles (six solo) and a pass defense…At Carolina, Sept. 25, led team with ten tackles (six solo)…Vs. Minnesota (London), Oct. 2, recorded nine tackles (eight solo)…Vs. Seattle, Oct. 9, posted seven tackles (four solo) and one forced fumble…Vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 16, tallied six solo tackles…At Arizona, Oct. 20, led the team with seven tackles (three solo), two for loss and a pass breakup…Vs. Las Vegas, Oct. 30, led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo), including a stop on last play of contest at the New Orleans four-yard line to help preserve a 24-0 shutout and one pass defense. The performance marked his sixth career double-digit tackle total and his third of 2022…Vs. Baltimore, Nov. 7, recorded three tackles (one solo) before leaving with an ankle injury, which caused him to miss the next four contests…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, returned to action and finished with four tackles (three solo)…At Cleveland, Dec. 24, inactive (hamstring)…At Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started at WLB and saw action on special teams, downing a punt at the Philadelphia four-yard line…Vs. Carolina, 1/8/23, recorded two assisted tackles. 2021 – Played in 15 games with eight starts at WLB, posting 59 tackles (37 solo) and three special teams stops…Vs. Green Bay, Sept. 12, made NFL debut on special teams…Inactive (hamstring) at Carolina, Sept. 19…At New England, Sept. 26, made first NFL start and played on special teams, finishing with two defensive tackles (one solo)…Started and had a career-high ten tackles (six solo) with one quarterback hit, vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 3...At Washington, Oct. 10, started and led the team with a career-high 13 tackles (eight solo)…Started and recorded six tackles (five solo), at Seattle, Oct. 25…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 31, started and recorded four tackles (three solo) with one stop for loss…Rotated at WLB and on special teams, recorded two tackles (one solo) with a stop for loss and recorded two assisted coverage stops, vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7…At Tennessee, Nov. 14, started and saw action on special teams and recorded two tackles (one solo)…Rotated at WLB and special teams and recorded a solo tackle, at Philadelphia, Nov. 21…Vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, rotated at WLB and on special teams and finished with three tackles (one solo)…Started and saw time on special teams and finished with three tackles (one solo) with one stop for loss, vs. Dallas, Dec. 2...At N.Y. Jets, Dec. 12, inactive (Elbow)…Rotated in at WLB and on special teams and finished with one solo tackle and one special teams stop, at Tampa Bay, Dec. 19…Vs. Miami. Dec. 27, Started and led the Saints defense with ten tackles in the contest…Rotated in at WLB and on special teams and finished with two tackles (one solo), vs. Carolina, 1/2/22...At Atlanta, 1/9/22, rotated in at WLB on special teams.
COLLEGE – As senior, voted by Big Ten coaches as first-team All-Conference and also was a Butkus Award semifinalist, starting all eight games during an abbreviated Big Ten season, recording 54 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 stops for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and one pass defense as the Buckeyes reached the College Football Playoff championship game…In 2019, started all 14 games for CFP semifinalists and second on Buckeyes with 64 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss for -11 yards, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten…As sophomore, started 13 of 14 games for Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes and recorded 58 tackles (38 solo), a career-high 7.5 stops for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and seven passes defensed…Lettered as true freshman, playing in 11 games and contributing nine tackles, most on special teams…Real estate and urban analysis major and was three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
PERSONAL – Rivals, 247Sports and Scout four-star prospect as a standout OLB at Indianapolis Cathedral HS…Ranked among the Top 300 players nationally by both Scout and 247Sports and among the Top 20 outside linebackers…A first-team Associated Press Class 6A all-state pick as a senior for a team that went 7-5 and advanced to the regional finals…Missed three games due to injury, but recorded 64 tackles, including 17 for loss and eight sacks…Finished third for Indianapolis Star Mr. Football honors and earned the Star's state's top linebacker award…Rated No. 1 OLB in Midwest by Scout and PrepStar all-Midwest region honoree…Father, Greg, starred in football and baseball at DePauw University, is in its Athletics Hall of Fame and played two years in the National Football League with the Jets and Eagles and now has an orthodontist practice in Indianapolis…Older brother, Dan, played football at Harvard…Helped local military participate in the Saints/Dudley DeBosier Battle of the Branches 7on7 Flag Football Tournament in November for Salute to Service Month at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…Military members from the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy formed teams that competed in a round-robin tournament, while also engaging in individual and team challenges like Tug-A-War, 40 Yard Dash, Long Ball Throw, Pushup Challenge, and Field Goal Kicking.
