Saints agree to extension with key linebacker

A Saints defense packed with experienced performers has seen a rookie-contract cog become a regular in recent years. As a result, Pete Werner is no longer attached to that rookie deal.

The fourth-year linebacker agreed to terms on an extension Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who indicates this is a three-year commitment. Werner signed a deal worth more than $25M, per Schefter, with $17.5M coming guaranteed. The former second-round pick will be tied to the Saints through the 2027 season.

Although we do not yet know the precise value, this extension appears to fall in line with the off-ball linebacker market’s upper-middle class. While market reassessments at running back and safety have been discussed more often, ILB paydays have dipped a bit in recent years. The past two free-agency periods have produced a glut of second-level defenders whose contracts have come in between $6M and $10M per year. If the Werner deal’s base value is indeed beyond $25M, the AAV would fall in line with the contracts Logan Wilson, Jordyn Brooks and Dre Greenlaw signed in the recent past.

Only five ILBs are currently tied to deals worth more than $12M per annum and Patrick Queen‘s Steelers pact contains no guarantees beyond Year 1. C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun also agreed to pay cuts (revisions that provided increased guarantees) this year. While this is not the best era to be an off-ball ‘backer, teams rely on their anchors at these positions. The Saints have one of the best in Demario Davis, but Werner — at 25 — is 10 years younger.

Werner emerged as a full-time player last season, logging an 88 percent snap rate for a workload (920 defensive plays) that came in well above his previous two seasons. The Davis sidekick opted for security rather than head into a contract year. The Saints have now agreed to deals with Davis, Werner and Willie Gay this offseason. The Gay deal, however, checked in as a one-year, $3M accord.

Pro Football Focus was much lower on Werner as a full-timer compared to his part-time work. After rating the former No. 60 overall pick as its No. 5 off-ball ‘backer in 2021, PFF slotted him 40th in 2022 and 67th in ’23. As far as traditional stats go, Werner racked up 93 tackles (four for loss) and intercepted a pass last year — his first with more than 11 starts. The Ohio State product started 16 games.

The Saints continue to rely on Davis’ top-shelf versatility carrying into his mid-30s; PFF rated the ageless dynamo third at the position in 2023. While betting against Davis has been a risky proposition, Werner’s contract may well place him on track to be the team’s long-term LB option once the team’s 35-year-old pillar is out of the picture.

New Orleans now has veteran contracts for Davis, Werner, Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu on defense. The team also brought in Justin Simmons for a visit on Wednesday. Going into his fourth season, Werner profiles as an important young talent on a defense that features some aging cogs. The Saints will count on him for the foreseeable future.