The New Orleans Saints have long been one of the NFL's most intriguing teams when it comes to financial strategy. For years, they pushed cap hits into the future, a gamble that paid off with Drew Brees under center but proved risky with Derek Carr. That approach ultimately backfired, leaving the Saints in a tight spot. Last offseason, they began to course-correct, but cap constraints still limited their moves. This year feels different—every decision seems deliberate, as if the organization is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes.

One area where this careful approach is most evident is in contract restructures. Before the draft, a few contracts remained untouched, including that of linebacker Pete Werner. His situation is particularly fascinating, given the state of the Saints' linebacker corps heading into the 2026 season.

Kaden Elliss is the clear leader of the group, and the hope is that he can step into the Demario Davis role—commanding the defense and setting the tone. But there's no guarantee he'll reach that level. Behind Elliss, the Saints have a mix of Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, and Isaiah Stalbird. On paper, it's a solid group, but last season exposed its vulnerabilities. Werner was frequently targeted in the run game, and as the season wore on, his snaps were increasingly given to Stutsman and Stalbird.

Werner has proven he can play at an NFL level, but relying on him to recapture that form is a risk. Trade rumors have swirled for some time, and with his snap count declining, it seemed like a parting of ways was inevitable. That's what makes the Saints' recent move so surprising: they restructured Werner's contract.

This decision speaks volumes about the team's belief in him. While they could still move on next season if needed, choosing Werner for a restructure significantly increases the likelihood he'll be part of the Saints' plans beyond 2026. It's a vote of confidence that signals the front office sees something in him that the on-field performance didn't always show last year.