<p>NEW ORLEANS — </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Four inside linebackers were drafted before the Saints took Werner at 60th overall pick.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/NFL">https://apnews.com/NFL</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
