Former Ohio State football linebacker gets big extension

Ohio State football players have been getting big extensions in the NFL for a while now. Everywhere you look, it seems there's a highly-compensated Buckeye. Whether it's at cornerback, defensive end, or running back, Buckeyes get paid. When you are the best at your position, you get extended.

It's a big part of Ohio State's recruiting pitch to prospects as well. They can point to a lot of different players who have gotten paid big money. Another example for them to use showed up on Thursday when a former linebacker got an extension from the New Orleans Saints.

Pete Werner was signed to a three-year extension worth $25 million with $17.5 million of it guaranteed according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Werner is now tied to New Orleans until the 2027 season. Werner was a second-round pick by the Saints in 2021.

Former Ohio State football player Pete Werner gets a big extension

Werner has already emerged as one of the best players on the Saints. He's someone that New Orleans wants to build around. In his first three years, Werner has recorded 235 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a pick, and a half-sack.

What makes Werner so valuable to the Saints is his ability to play both the run and the pass. In today's NFL, you need linebackers that are versatile enough to do both. He was one of the most versatile players that the Ohio State football team had too when he was a Buckeye.

This probably won't be the last big deal that Werner signs in his career. He's too good of a player even if he doesn't produce a lot of flashy turnover numbers. He tracks running backs sideline to sideline and gets a lot of tackles. Every single NFL team is looking for a player like that.