Zach Harrison signs rookie contract with Atlanta Falcons
COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison signed his four-year rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons this week.
The total value of Harrison’s deal is approximately $5,568,448, according to Spotrac, which also estimates his signing bonus to be $1,049,780.
The Falcons took Harrison with the No. 75 overall pick in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft. Harrison was the fourth Ohio State player off the board, and the first since quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba went in the first round.
Harrison arrived at Ohio State with high expectations. The Olentangy Orange High School product was the No. 7 overall prospect int he 2019 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Although he never recorded more than 3.5 sacks in a season at Ohio State, he still left his mark with the Buckeyes. Albeit inconsistent, Harrison proved his knack for making game-changing plays.
Just this past season, he forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass. His pick came on a tip-drill play at Penn State. And one of his forced fumbles took place at Maryland a month later when he sacked Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa for the second straight play, dislodging the ball, which linebacker Steele Chambers corralled and returned for a game-sealing score.
Harrison also led Ohio State with 33 pressures generated in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus. His skill set and size — Harrison had the longest arm measurement (36 1/4 inches) of any D-Lineman at the NFL Combine since 2014 — are both promising. The 6-foot-5 1/2, 274-pound Harrison is still trying to put it all together.
“Zach is another guy we were able to work out at Ohio State when we went up there,” Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said following the selection of Harrison, via atlantafalcons.com. “[He has] length, clearly, and he was a big recruit coming into Ohio State. Obviously, [he’s still] kind of coming into his own. Still pretty young, but there’s not the pressure on him right away.”
Harrison will be able to learn behind Falcons defensive linemen Lorenzo Carter, Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree, Arnold Ebiketie and Ade Ogundeji. He won’t have to play right away, which could be beneficial for the Central Ohio native.
Harrison has an interesting blend of experience — he played more than 200 defensive snaps each of his four years at Ohio State — and untapped potential. That’s what makes his Falcons career so intriguing.
That career is well underway now that Harrison’s rookie contract is signed.
