Saints sign Ohio State's rushing TD leader as free agent after NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints didn't use any 2026 NFL Draft picks on a running back.

But after the draft's conclusion, they got to work adding one RB to their room.

CJ Donaldson is one of the newest Saints, an undrafted free agent signing that the team itself announced.

Donaldson spent the 2025 season playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He ran 96 times for 361 yards and a team-high 10 rushing TDs. He also had 15 catches for 96 yards.

He spent his previous three college seasons at West Virginia. Donaldson was great at finding the end zone for the Mountaineers, too, with 30 rushing touchdowns in three seasons.

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He's originally from Miami, Florida, and after his two college stops, he has his first NFL destination. 

Donaldson will have to impress to stick around, and his best aim may be to get onto the practice squad for his rookie season.

He's not the build of most NFL running backs these days, but rather like the bruisers of yesteryear. In the Saints' announcement, they list Donaldson as 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds.

There's still room in the league for an RB like that, especially since Donaldson showed in college that he has a nose for the end zone.

The Saints will certainly take touchdowns if Donaldson is ready to provide them.

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