Pete Werner isn’t shying away from the added competition in Saints linebacker room

In 2022, Pete Werner established himself as a quality linebacker in the NFL. His second year in the league, Werner was officially a full-time starter, and in 12 games, he recorded 80 tackles, three for a loss, creating a dominant linebacker duo with veteran Demario Davis. This excited the New Orleans Saints about what they had moving forward.

Unfortunately, Werner regressed a bit in year three. Playing in all 16 games, he only recorded 93 tackles, four for a loss, half a sack, and one interception. Additionally, New Orleans’ defensive front wasn’t that dominant, allowing 119.9 rushing yards a game, which ranked 22nd in the NFL.

As typically the case in the NFL, once an issue is identified, the team adds players to address the issue. That’s exactly what the Saints did at linebacker this offseason, signing Willie Gay, Khaleke Hudson, and drafting Jaylan Ford. For Werner, that means he will have to step his game up and compete to hold on to his starting spot.

Werner spoke with the media on Wednesday, following the Saints’ second minicamp practice, and made it clear that he’s looking forward to the competition.

Saints linebacker room will be about competition in 2024

Werner acknowledged that to be in the NFL is to have competition; he said that’s a reality that every player learns early if they didn’t know it already. However, this increased competition at linebacker isn’t an uncomfortable situation for Werner. He compares it to his time at Ohio State, competing with players who were much more coveted recruits than he was.

The biggest competition for Werner will be Willie Gay, who the Saints signed this offseason after his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs ended. In New Orleans’ base defense, the three linebackers will likely be Demario Davis, Werner, and Gay. However, the Saints probably aren’t going to have three linebackers on the field often. That means Gay and Werner will compete to see who lines up alongside Davis, the most, when only two linebackers are on the field.

Since joining the team, Gay has impressed with his speed, athleticism, and energy, but Werner has responded with some impressive practices as well. This is a battle that will take place all through training camp, and even into the regular season. If both guys bring their best, the Saints will benefit from the competition.

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