Saints UDFA profile: Scouting Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson

Running back was not a position that the New Orleans Saints addressed in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Ohio State Buckeyes running back CJ Donaldson was quickly signed by the Saints after going undrafted. New Orleans had signed Travis Etienne early in free agency, so running back was not a priority going into the draft. Still, Donaldson will have an opportunity to earn a job on the depth chart.

New Orleans has had success with undrafted running backs in the past. The most famous example is Pierre Thomas, a franchise great. However, undrafted backs Chris Ivory and Khiry Robinson also made impacts a little over a decade ago. It's a stretch to think that Donaldson will have anywhere near the success of those three. Here's what he'll bring to the Saints as an undrafted rookie.

CJ Donaldson bio

• Position: Running back
• College: Ohio State Buckeyes
• Height: 6-feet, 2 inches
• Weight: 230 pounds

Strengths

• Powerful north-south runner
• Consistent goal-line producer
• Squares pads into contact
• Strength to break tackles
• Surges through contact for extra yardage
• Good scheme understanding

Weaknesses

• Little imagination to create if hole isn't there
• Doesn't have the speed to get outside the numbers
• Burst through the hole into second level below average