The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Pete Werner 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Linebacker
SIze: 6-foot-3, 238 pounds
Class: Senior
2020 stats: 54 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles
One of the late risers in the draft process is Pete Werner. After a solid career at Ohio State he is a good linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
He was a four-star prospect out of Indiana, but chose to go to Ohio State. Werner received a little playing time as a freshman, but really started contributing as a sophomore. He totaled 58 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and nine passes defended. The Buckeyes went 13-1 and won the Rose Bowl that season. As a junior, Werner had 64 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three passes defended. Ohio State made the CFP, but lost in the semifinals to Clemson. Werner returned for his senior season, posting 54 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one pass defended. The Buckeyes were able to make the National Championship Game, but lost to Alabama.
Werner produced a lot over the last three seasons of his Ohio State career. He is now projected to be a second to fourth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
For the linebacker position, Werner has a good frame. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds, which is big enough to battle on the interior, but light enough for him to move decently. Werner also has long arms, which helps him shed and deal with passes thrown near him.
Werner has great body control for a linebacker. He has solid acceleration and agility, as he has loose hips. While he isn’t the fastest or strongest linebacker, Werner can move well in small areas. This helps him both against the run and the pass.
This agility helps Werner a lot in coverage. He can play both man and zone. Werner uses his eyes well and can break on the football when thrown in his zone. He can be trusted in man coverage against tight ends, as he has the size and body control to combat them.
While he has a good frame, Werner doesn’t have great play strength. He can struggle to shed blocks at times because offensive linemen are so much stronger than him. If he can add more muscle to his frame, without compromising his movement abilities, he will be a much more well-rounded player.
Werner could have better awareness and play diagnosis. There are times he is late to the football because he reads the play wrong. When teams run play action and misdirection plays, Werner can be fooled and give up big gains.
He isn’t a slow linebacker, but Werner doesn’t have great speed. Werner is great in short areas, but he can come up short when covering faster players or when in pursuit of ball carriers. If he can start taking better angles to ball carriers, this will not make it as big of an issue for him.
Projected Draft Range; Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
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