The New Orleans Saints had one final signing to make ahead of their rookie minicamp this week, adding another young defensive tackle in former Ole Miss standout Zxavian Harris.
The move had been reported several days prior but was not officially announce by the team until Thursday afternoon.
Harris' situation is a unique one, with the player widely believed to be a mid-round talent going undrafted earlier this month. That drop was likely due to a combination of off-field issues, including a pair of arrests in 2023 and 2024, and an injury. Harris also recovering from offseason foot surgery and did not work out at the combine or the Ole Miss pro day.
Still, the Saints are taking a chance on a player with significant upside. Harris, listed at 6-8, 330 pounds, was an anchor on the Ole Miss interior defensive line for a team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. He registered 123 tackles (17.5 TFLs) and 5.5 sacks during his four seasons in Oxford, a team coached by new LSU HC Lane Kiffin.
New Orleans didn't shy away from injury risks in this year's rookie class, taking WR Jordyn Tyson and No. 8 overall as well as DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. in the fifth round. Tyson's injury history was a topic throughout the entire draft process as he worked back from a hamstring issue. Styles underwent shoulder surgery following the combine and isn't expected to be ready for on-field work until training camp in July.
It's unknown whether or how much Harris will participate in this week's rookie minicamp, which includes practices on Friday and Saturday. The Saints will have eight draft picks and 10 other UDFAs in attendance. See the full roster here.
The Saints will add Harris to a defensive line room that's particularly intriguing for 2026. Along with veterans in Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd, the Saints drafted Georgia DT Christen Miller in the second round of this year's draft. They'll also see the return of Vernon Broughton, a third-round pick from a year ago who appeared in one game before suffering a season-ending injury.
