Saints make it official, announce deal with NFL's top undrafted rookie

TL;DR

The New Orleans Saints have officially signed undrafted rookie defensive tackle Zxavian Harris from Ole Miss. He is recovering from foot surgery and will not participate in rookie minicamp but has potential as a top prospect.

Key points

New Orleans Saints sign Zxavian Harris to rookie contract
Harris recovering from foot surgery and won't participate in minicamp
Considered top undrafted rookie despite injury and off-field issues

Zxavian HarrisNew Orleans SaintsOle Miss

It's official -- the New Orleans Saints announced they have signed former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris to his rookie contract. Harris reported with other first-year pros for this weekend's rookie minicamp, but he isn't expected to participate while recovering from March foot surgery. We'll be keeping tabs on his progress over the summer.

Harris was seen as a potential top-100 pick and the NFL's best available undrafted free agent, but a combination of factors led to him not being drafted. Between that foot injury detected at the NFL Combine in February and a pair of arrests in college, teams weren't willing to invest a draft pick (and all of the guaranteed money that comes with it) in him. Inconsistencies on his game tape didn't help his case.

But that's all going to be forgotten if Harris keeps his head on straight, gets healthy, and responds to coaching. He's a towering athlete at 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds and he only got better year over year in college. He helped lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year with dominant performances against Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tulane and Georgia. Conditioning will be big for him, too, after logging a career-high 63 snaps against Miami wore him down in the playoffs. For now, his focus needs to be on getting his body right and competing for a roster spot in a crowded position group.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Saints sign Ole Miss rookie DT Zxavian Harris

Q&A

What led to Zxavian Harris not being drafted in the NFL?

Zxavian Harris was not drafted due to a foot injury detected at the NFL Combine and a couple of arrests during college, which made teams hesitant to invest a draft pick in him.

How tall and heavy is Zxavian Harris?

Zxavian Harris stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 330 pounds, making him a towering presence on the field.

What are the expectations for Zxavian Harris with the Saints?

The Saints expect Zxavian Harris to focus on his recovery and compete for a roster spot, leveraging his potential as a strong athlete who improved year over year in college.