NEW ORLEANS —
The New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, adding a second defensive player in as many rounds.
The 6-foot-3, 242-pound Warner was a four-year player for the Buckeyes who was a coaches’ pick for first-team All-Big Ten Conference and a Butkus Award Semifinalist last season, when he had a sack and two forced fumbles, along with 54 solo or assisted tackles in eight games.
Four inside linebackers were drafted before the Saints took Werner at 60th overall pick.
Werner’s selection comes after New Orleans released 2020 starting linebacker Kwon Alexander and allowed fellow regular linebacker Alex Anzalone to leave in free agency.
Werner was not only the second player draft by New Orleans overall, but also second defensive player drafted by the Saints. On Thursday night, the Saints selected 6-foot-5, 270-pound Houston defensive end Payton Turner 28th overall in the first round.
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