As Tyler Shough ignites the offense, Pete Werner’s decisive play and relentless tackling are transforming him into the long-awaited heir to New Orleans' defensive leadership mantle.
The biggest story surrounding the New Orleans Saints this season has understandably been Tyler Shough. When your young quarterback throws for 662 yards through two games and leads a fourth-quarter comeback in Baltimore, people are going to talk about him. But while everybody has been watching the offense, something pretty important has been happening on the other side of the football.
Pete Werner is starting to look like the next leader of the Saints' defense.
Werner enters Sunday's home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders after arguably one of the best games of his NFL career. He led New Orleans with 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit during last week's 24-17 comeback victory over Baltimore. The performance earned him a game ball.
And after New Orleans spent the offseason wondering who would replace the presence and production of Demario Davis, Werner is beginning to provide an answer.
Werner Is Playing Faster
Werner's numbers through two games aren't flashy in the fantasy-football sense. They're important in the real-football sense.
He recorded seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit in the season-opening overtime loss to Detroit. Then he followed it with those 11 tackles and a sack against Lamar Jackson and Baltimore.
That's 18 tackles through two games, but the more interesting development is how Werner is making them. He looks decisive.
Saints coach Kellen Moore said Friday that Werner has been trusting himself and playing quickly, while defensive coordinator Brandon Staley pointed to Werner's move to the middle as something that has helped unlock his game.
That's exactly what you want from the player organizing the middle of your defense. See it., Trust it andGo.
Replacing Demario Was Never Going to Be About One Player
Let's be clear about something. Nobody needed Werner to become Demario Davis.
Davis left New Orleans in free agency after spending eight seasons with the Saints and earning five All-Pro selections during his time with the franchise. Werner played alongside him for five seasons.
You don't replace that kind of experience by handing somebody else the green dot and saying, "Your turn." Leadership develops. Confidence develops.
And sometimes a player needs the previous leader to leave before everyone realizes he's ready for more responsibility. That's what I think we're watching with Werner.
He already showed signs of growth last season in his first year under Staley, posting career highs with two sacks, three fumble recoveries, four passes defensed and three quarterback hits while totaling 81 tackles and playing all 17 games.
Now those flashes are becoming more consistent.
Sunday Gives Werner Another Interesting Test
The Raiders enter the Caesars Superdome at 2-0, while New Orleans is 1-1.
Las Vegas hasn't overwhelmed teams statistically on offense, averaging 297.5 yards per game, which ranks tied for 19th in the NFL. The Raiders are averaging 93.5 rushing yards and 204 passing yards per game.
That doesn't mean the Saints can relax. It means they have an opportunity. New Orleans' defense currently ranks 26th against the run, allowing 136.5 yards per game. That's the number I'd circle if I'm Werner.
The Saints allowed Jahmyr Gibbs to rush for 156 yards in Week 1 before producing a much better defensive performance against Baltimore. If New Orleans wants to build on that improvement, the middle of the defense has to control Sunday's game.
That means Werner diagnosing runs quickly, fitting the correct gap and getting Raiders ball carriers on the ground before they reach the secondary.
My Two Pennies
I've spent plenty of time talking about Tyler Shough this season, and deservedly so. But Pete Werner deserves some attention.
The Saints lost one of the most respected defensive leaders in franchise history when Demario Davis departed. Nobody expected one player to immediately fill that hole.
Two games into 2026, though, Werner looks comfortable trying. He's tackling. He's attacking. He's communicating. Most importantly, he's playing like somebody who believes the middle of this defense belongs to him.
Sunday's home opener is another opportunity to prove it. New Orleans doesn't need Pete Werner to become the next Demario Davis.
It needs Pete Werner to become the best version of Pete Werner. Right now, that version looks pretty good.
