The New Orleans Saints are 42 days out from their 2026 season opener, and the clock is already tied to a familiar kind of camp battle. On the roster at the start of training camp wearing No. 42 is defensive back Mike Reid, a recent addition who now gets his shot to fight for a place in a crowded secondary.
Reid was signed just before camp opened, and his path to New Orleans has been anything but direct. He came out of Owings Mills High School in Maryland and committed to Monmouth, where he worked his way into a bigger role after getting on the field as a true freshman.
By his second season in 2021, he was a regular starter. The production followed.
In 2022, his 11 pass breakups ranked among the best in FCS, and in 2023 he led Monmouth with 8 passes broken up before transferring to South Dakota for the 2024 season.
His final college year with the Coyotes gave him another strong stat line. As a senior, Reid picked off 2 passes and added 8 pass breakups, tying for the team lead.
Reid went undrafted in 2025, then landed with the Carolina Panthers. He opened the season on their practice squad, was released in late October, and later got a brief stop with the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent only a week on the practice squad before being cut again. Carolina brought him back afterward, and he finished the season there without appearing in a game.
The Panthers gave him a reserve/future contract in January, but that run ended when he was released on July 25. Three days later, the Saints brought him in for training camp.
Now Reid is staring at a tough climb. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, and Martin Emerson are projected to be the top three corners, while Reid is among the players battling for the remaining spots with Rezjohn Wright, Dalys Beanum, Isaac Yiadom, and rookie seventh-round pick TJ Hall. If he’s going to stick, special teams may be his clearest path, but he’ll also need to flash in coverage during camp and preseason action.
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Saints Receiver Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn At The Worst Time
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The Saints then placed Polk on the reserve/retiring list, effectively ending his NFL career and closing the book on a player who had only recently been in the mix. The reasons behind his decision have not been disclosed, leaving New Orleans to absorb one more unexpected wrinkle in a receiver room that was already getting crowded with competition. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backup QB Battle Is Creating Early Pressure In Camp
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Kellen Moore has made it clear the evaluation is still unfolding, with the Saints planning to rotate backup reps between Wilson and Rattler as camp moves along. Wilson is still getting up to speed in the system, which gives Rattler a chance to keep building on his early edge, while Shough has had a rougher stretch in team work and the competition around him only adds to the pressure as New Orleans keeps sorting out the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]