Zachariah Department is a large receiver from Georgia projected to be chosen within the 2026 NFL Draft. This complete scouting report analyzes Department’s draft potential, present mock draft developments, and the place he ranks among the many high prospects.
Zachariah Department’s NFL Draft Potential
Zachariah Department is a prestigious expertise on the faculty soccer stage. He was a consensus five-star recruit and top-10 expertise general within the 2023 class, and made an instantaneous influence upon signing with the USC Trojans.
As a real freshman, Department’s dynamic capability turned a high nationwide story. He discovered the top zone thrice on the offensive facet of the ball, but in addition returned a kick return and punt return for a landing as properly, successful the Jet Award for CFB’s greatest return man and establishing his place as an electrical playmaker. USC scaled him again as a return man and utilized him extra on offense in 2024, and the outcomes have been respectable, however Department finally transferred to Georgia—keen to keep up a productive function whereas competing for CFB Playoff actual property.
In 2025, Department launched into his greatest 12 months but as an offensive playmaker. Throughout 12 common season video games, he notched 68 catches for 691 yards and 4 touchdowns, attaining career-highs in all classes. He by no means logged lower than three catches in a given week, and logged 10 catches for over 100 yards in opposition to Florida—accentuating his potential as a goal funnel and schemed-touch weapon.
That versatility is on the coronary heart of Department’s profile. At a wiry-built 5’10”, 180 kilos, with hyper-elite explosiveness, foot pace, short-area twitch, ingrained spatial intelligence, and max speeds of over 23 MPH (per Feldman’s Freaks), Department is a weapon with the ball in his palms. He could make instantaneous RAC transitions and make defenders miss in house, then rocket up creases along with his gear-shift capability—however he’s quietly a whole WR at his dimension, too. He’s very unproven in opposition to press, which can restrict his projection to a hybrid-slot function, however he understands how you can stem off-man and zone defenders, he has nice zone really feel, and he flashes high-level physique management and contortion capability as a catcher, with the supercharged vertical capability to high-point powerful balls.
Specifically, these traits have been seen in opposition to Mississippi State, the place Department went for eight catches, 68 yards, and a rating. The TD play was one thing we’ve come to anticipate from Department: an explosive RAC play through which Department used his hyper-elite explosive capability to stretch the seam. However Department additionally showcased his environment friendly separation capability and size-defying physique management and catch-point authority. Department can be mischaracterized as a gadget participant by some, however he’s quietly grown into a whole receiving presence.
Georgia hasn’t had an explosive passing assault with Gunner Stockton on the helm, however the superior metrics lean closely in favor of Department’s effectivity, despite his passing sport’s inherent limitations. Department has the sixth-highest PFSN WR Impression rating in the complete nation at 85. Per TruMedia, he’s producing 2.68 yards of RAC over expectation, a 14.29% catch fee over expectation, 2.68 yards per route run, and 0.57 EPA per reception. Department aces the mixed movie and analytical analysis, and there’s cause to consider he’ll be an much more productive professional than he was a university participant.
If Department declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, his testing and particular groups worth will assist him immensely, and though restricted boundary utility will prohibit his group and schematic suits, he could be a versatile and dynamic weapon in the proper place—and one who exceeds his draft capital and NFL Draft fanfare along with his eventual manufacturing.
The place Is Department Being Chosen Most Usually within the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Department presently holds the No. 101 general rank amongst prospects, reflecting his standing amongst mid-round prospects. His most up-to-date Common Draft Place (ADP) of 101.2 as of December 6 displays that he’s sometimes being chosen within the center rounds.
This small hole between rank and ADP suggests he’s constantly valued amongst evaluators, even amid fluctuations in participant evaluations at this stage of the draft cycle.
Customers controlling the Atlanta Falcons have been the group that chosen Department essentially the most incessantly over the previous week, accounting for two.5% of their picks throughout all seven rounds.
Able to run your individual draft? Head over to the free PFSN Mock Draft Simulator and be the GM of your favourite group!
The place Does Zachariah Department Rank Amongst Different NFL Draft Prospects?
Department is presently exterior the highest 100 in my December huge board however stays an intriguing prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. Rankings are up to date month-to-month as the school soccer season progresses and extra scouting data turns into accessible.
Need to see how we rank all of the draft prospects within the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Take a look at our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings web page, which incorporates greater than 750 prospects.
Leave a Reply