Desmond Reid Could Take the Vikings’ Offense To the Next Level

It’s no secret that the Minnesota Vikings drafted poorly under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the team is looking to turn it around in 2026. Running back is one of those position groups that need young talent immediately, and Pittsburgh’s Desmond Reid can provide that and much more.

Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Zavier Scott make up Minnesota’s current running back room, so the Vikings will most likely be hunting for a young addition. Reid's incredible versatility as a runner or pass catcher can provide an immediate spark.

We will start with the positives of Reid’s game, and one of the big ones is his role flexibility. During his two seasons with the Panthers, he racked up an impressive 1,244 rushing and 896 receiving yards on his way to First-Team All-ACC and All-American honors in 2024. He also showed flashes in the return game, taking two punt returns to the house in that span.

Desmond Reid averaged a ridiculous 140 scrimmage yards per game in 2024. If an injury hadn’t shortened his 2025 season, he probably would have maintained that pace. He opened the season with 147 and 141, respectively, in Pitt’s first two games. After watching tape on Reid, he reminds me of David Palmer, a versatile Vikings player from the past.

Due to his flexibility as a do-it-all offensive threat, Reid can be lined up in the slot as a receiver or split wide to create problems for linebackers following him. Linebackers must account for Reid burning them on seam and wheel routes due to his speed out of the backfield. Kevin O’Connell could not only address the need for young talent in the RB room, but he could also find specific packages that fit Reid’s strengths and open up play-calling options immediately.

Another strength of Reid’s game is his ability to make defenders miss. Multiple draft experts have called him quick and elusive. His short-area quickness leads defenders to miss their tackles, and Reid breaks free for home-run plays in three different roles.

The main concern in Reid’s draft evaluation is his size. Similar to Palmer, Reid is undersized, sitting at 5’6”, 174 lbs. As a result, scouts have concerns about his durability at the next level, and his injuries from the last two seasons at Pitt don’t help. The good news is the Vikings don’t need him to be an every-down back. O’Connell can feel comfortable using Reid in his ideal role, which is a package-specific one.

With all of this in mind, I believe the Vikings should take a flyer on Reid because his strengths would help open up the offense even more. Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray to compete for that QB1 spot, and Murray is known for taking checkdowns routinely in his progressions.

Reid could be a security blanket for Murray, and with his home-run threat ability, could make something from nothing. It also helps that talent evaluators project Reid as a late-round to UDFA-level prospect, so the Vikings can address other primary concerns first in the draft and still fill this need.

Versatility is a huge asset to have in the NFL, and Desmond Reid has a ton of it. The Vikings would be wise to take a shot on the former Pitt Panther.