The New Orleans Saints signed Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris in undrafted free agency. Defensive line remains an area of focus for the Saints front office. They took Christen Miller, a defensive tackle from the University of Georgia, with the 42nd overall pick.
Harris fell out of the NFL Draft because of multiple character red flags in the years preceding. In 2023, police arrested Harris for DUI, reckless driving, felony fleeing, and more charges. In 2024, he was arrested for domestic violence and obstruction.
Despite the concerns about the person, the Saints gave Harris a contract and an opportunity to make the roster during offseason training. Draft analysts had varied grades on Harris with some projecting him as an early day three prospect.
NFL Draft Analysts Divided About Harris
GettyHarris received some good grades as a prospect despite the red flags in his past.
PFF ranked Harris as the 119th best prospect overall in the NFL Draft. They graded Harris as a positive influence defensively with a 77.5 run defense grade; however, his pass rush grades leave room for improvement. PFF gave him a 62.3 pass rush grade and a 62.1 pass rush grade in true pass rush sets.
PFF said, “Harris has intriguing size and length but must find a consistent playing weight to define his role. His high pad level and inconsistent technique limit his impact, projecting him as a rotational player in an odd front.”
Dane Brugler of the Athletic ranked Harris as his 32nd overall defensive tackle but graded him as an undrafted free agent. Brugler notes Harris’ ability in the run game but also acknowledges his lack of playmaking as a pass rusher.
Brugler said, “Harris doesn’t pop nearly as much as one might expect for a player who should be noticeable on every snap, but he offers developmental upside with rare size. He will interest teams that play both even (three-technique) and odd (five-technique) fronts, although questions about maturity will influence his draft grade as much as anything.”
Harris started three years at Ole Miss. He produced 123 combined tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks over 52 games.
Zxavian Harris Athletic Profile
GettyHarris did not test at the NFL Combine or Ole Miss pro day.
Harris did not participate in the pre-draft athletic testing, but he did take measurements. Per RAS football, Harris has an elite height (just above 6’7”) and weight (330 lbs) for a defensive tackle. NFL Next Gen Stats gave Harris an athleticism score of 67 based on those result, projecting him to be at least an average starter at the NFL level.
New Orleans Saints Sign UDFA with Massive Character Concerns