Justin Reid is the Saints’ Player of Day 21 as New Orleans countdowns to kickoff with opening-night questions answered by his arrival. Reid steps into a leadership role in a defense eager for a dramatic improvement after last season’s underwhelming output, especially in the secondary. A product of Geismar and Stanford, Reid arrived as a coveted free agent and now anchors NO’s back end, tasked with filling Tyrann Mathieu’s void and guiding younger cover players through a pivotal season.
His NFL journey spans Houston, Kansas City, and now New Orleans, where his impact is measured not just by tackles but by his ability to read routes and disrupt passes. Reid posted 83 tackles with KC in 2022, followed by a career-best 95 tackles in 2023, plus multiple sacks and PBUs across stops. The Saints’ defense hopes Reid’s veteran presence translates into more turnovers and fewer big plays, a critical factor as they aim for a marked step forward in 2025.
With Mathieu’s retirement opening a new chapter, Reid’s home-state return is seen as both a symbolic and practical upgrade. The opener against Arizona in 21 days will test how quickly Reid can install a new backbone for NO’s defensive backfield and help lift a unit hungry for a confident start to the season.
