New Orleans Saints select Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman in fourth round

Danny Stutsman is headed to New Orleans.

The Saints selected the former Oklahoma linebacker with the 112th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. He's the first Sooners linebacker taken in the draft since Nik Bonitto and Brian Asamoah were selected in the second round in 2022.

Stutsman played four seasons, all in a Sooners uniform, and was a contributor immediately. After his senior season, Stutsman was a consensus All-American having registered 109 tackles, including eight for-loss, and a sack. He leaves Oklahoma in ninth place in school history for tackles with 377. That total is the most since Travis Lewis, third in school history, logged 446 from 2007-11.

"I’m really proud and thankful for all the seniors but certainly the growth and maturity that has taken place with Danny," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said near the end of the season. "To me, having a guy that has a legacy somewhere comes from making the place better than when you got there. If he’s done something, he’s done that. And he’s left his mark."

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein said Stutsman projects to be an average starter for his career in the league.

"He’s efficient and productive near the line, but his effectiveness and tackling dip once the play moves into space," Zierlein said. "Stutsman is an adequate athlete with good size and special-teams talent, showing the potential to become a starting inside ‘backer."

Stustman is the first Oklahoma player taken by the Saints since wide receiver Kenny Stills in 2013.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Saints select linebacker Danny Stutsman in fourth round of NFL Draft