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New Orleans Saints select Danny Stutsman in fourth round of 2025 NFL Draft

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•about 13 hours•

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Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) warms up before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Maine Black Bears at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Brent Venables has been known for producing quality linebackers over the years. His latest is Danny Stutsman, who is off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft — just the latest defensive stud produced by the Oklahoma Sooners.

Stutsman was taken by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 112 overall pick in the fourth round. He is the prototypical middle linebacker who will have hopes of contributing right away.

Oklahoma saw Stutsman start in 12 games this season, just missing their bowl game against Air Force. His performances saw him named a Consensus All-American, the program’s first since wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. He finished with 109 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for a loss and one sack.

““How about him being an All-American,” Venables said of Stutsman. “And really cool. First Team All-SEC in his first year. I’m really proud and thankful for all the seniors but certainly the growth and maturity that has taken place with Danny. 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.”

Stutsman played high school football at Winter Garden (FL) Foundation Academy, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 291 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Danny Stutsman

Stutsman received a full scouting report from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein ahead of the draft. The now-former Oklahoma linebacker received a prospect score of 6.24, meaning Zierlein projects him as someone who “will eventually turn into an average starter.”

No direct player comparison was given during the scouting report. However, the NFL Draft analyst did project him to be taken in the third round.

“Inside linebacker with size and instincts to post a board full of high totals as a tackler,” Zierlein said. “Stutsman is football smart with studious play recognition to stay one step ahead of blockers. His downhill flows narrow the runner’s angles and he’s accomplished at slipping around blockers or sliding off of them to tackle.

“His block take-on needs work, though. He’s efficient and productive near the line, but his effectiveness and tackling dip once the play moves into space. Stutsman is an adequate athlete with good size and special-teams talent, showing the potential to become a starting inside ‘backer.