Harris entered the draft process with considerable attention from evaluators. Many projected him as a mid-round selection, with some rankings placing him among the top defensive tackles available. Instead, he’ll now take the longer route — one that requires earning a roster spot through offseason work and preseason performance.
At 6-foot-8 and around 320 pounds, Harris brings rare size to the interior defensive line. His length and physicality have made him particularly effective against the run, where he consistently disrupted blocking schemes during his time in Oxford. He also showed flashes of impact in other areas, including special teams, where his reach made him a threat to block kicks.
In his final season with the Rebels, Harris started every game and produced one of the most complete years of his career. He totaled 58 tackles, added three sacks, and contributed multiple plays in the passing game, including a key interception. Over four seasons, he appeared in more than 50 games, developing into a reliable presence along the defensive front.
Still, several factors complicated his draft outlook. A foot injury that required surgery following the NFL Combine limited his ability to fully participate in pre-draft workouts, raising questions for teams evaluating his immediate availability. Additionally, off-field issues during his college career may have impacted how some organizations assessed his risk.
Despite those concerns, Pete Golding has remained confident in Harris’ ability to succeed at the next level.
“With Zay, I don’t think it’s how you start, it’s how you finish,” Golding said April 27. “I think a lot of that could be looking at the body type and all those types of things. Zay loves football. He’s tough, he’s competitive. He’s got a really good skill set.”
Golding has consistently pointed to Harris’ competitiveness and passion for the game, emphasizing that his long-term success will depend on growth, consistency, and the environment he steps into at the professional level.
“Hopefully he gets in a room with a vet and sees it done the right way on a day-to-day basis,” Golding said.
That opportunity now begins in New Orleans, where Harris will report for rookie minicamp and begin competing for a role. For players in his position, the margin is slim — but the opportunity is real.
Harris may not have heard his name called during draft weekend, but he’s landed in a situation where he can still write the next chapter of his football career — one that will be defined not by projections, but by what he does from here.
