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Scouting Future Saints: Pitt Panthers running back Desmond Reid
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- Scouting Future Saints: Pitt Panthers running back Desmond Reid
The New Orleans Saints have a rich history of finding successful running backs and wide receivers who were overlooked in the 2026 NFL Draft. One such player in the 2026 draft could be Pitt Panthers running back Desmond Reid, an electric playmaker. It's also a position that the Saints may not be done adding players, even with the addition of Travis Etienne in free agency.
Just in the last two and a half decades, backs or receivers like Michael Lewis, Marques Colston , Pierre Thomas , Lance Moore , Chris Ivory , Khiry Robinson , Deonte Harris , and Rashid Shaheed have had terrific success with the Saints after being late-round picks or going undrafted. It's obviously way too early to predict whether Reid or anyone else could have even near their impacts. However, Reid does bring a home run element that should intrigue NFL teams.
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Desmond Reid bio
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Position: Running back
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College: Pitt Panthers
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Height: 5-feet, 6 inches
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Weight: 174 pounds
After playing at Miramar High School in Florida, Reid landed with the Western Carolina Catamounts to commence his collegiate career. He picked up 826 rushing yards as a freshman in 2022, adding another 212 receiving and scoring 5 touchdowns. In 2023, Reid had 897 yards on the ground and 13 scores, catching 21 passes for 283 yards. He'd enter the transfer portion after that season, taking his talents to the Pittsburgh Panthers and the ACC.
Reid quickly proved that his success at Western Carolina wasn't a fluke with the jump to ACC competition. He rushed for 966 yards in 2024 with Pitt. Reid also had 52 receptions for 579 yards, finishing second on the Panthers in both categories, while reaching the end zone 10 times in total. That all-purpose success earned him 1st Team All-ACC recognition. Numerous leg injuries forced Reid to miss five full games and large portions of two others this past season. As a result, his numbers dipped to 278 yards rushing and 23 catches for 317 yards.
Strengths
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Explosive big-play threat
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Proven production versus ACC competition
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Incredible elusiveness
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Elite ability to cut and fake to freeze defenders
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Terrific receiving skills
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Home run threat as a punt returner
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Weaknesses
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Small size will prevent him from featured back duties or heavy workload
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Ineffective between the tackles
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Durability issues
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Doesn't break many tackles
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Too often makes extra east-west moves instead of turning upfield
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Must improve his awareness and decision-making to win a role as returner
Desmond Reid bio
Reid's diminutive stature and injury issues in 2025 will almost guarantee that he falls to the late rounds if he's drafted at all. His explosive ability also gives him an opportunity to earn a role and make teams regret passing him by. Reid needs to show better patience as a runner and hide behind blocks, but is a legitimate threat to take it the distance from anywhere on the field in various capacities. Winning a job as a returner could also solidify a roster spot and open up more opportunities as he develops. He is also a huge matchup advantage as a receiver, even able to line up in the slot and run routes down the field.
Years ago, the Saints had a short running back in Darren Sproles and used him expertly as a runner, receiver, and returner. Sproles and Reid are built differently, but Reid offers some similar matchup opportunities. New Orleans could certainly use the additional threat if the chance arises to take Desmond Reid in the late rounds.
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Panthers RB Desmond Reid scouting report
