The newly acquired Miami edge rusher Damon Wilson II enters the 2026 season with a chance to establish himself as one of the top pass rushers in college football and a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The former five-star recruit began his career at Georgia before breaking out at Missouri in 2025. Wilson earned Second-Team All-SEC honors after recording 9 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, and consistently creating pressure against some of the best offenses in the country.
At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Wilson has a solid frame that NFL teams look for at the position. His first-step quickness, closing speed, and ability to disrupt quarterbacks make him one of the nation’s more dangerous edge defenders.
Now at Miami, Wilson enters the season expected to be one of the Hurricanes’ defensive leaders and a player NFL scouts will watch closely every week.
Damon Wilson II Early 2027 NFL Draft Profile
Strengths
Wilson’s best trait is his ability to rush the passer.
He is a pure passer, and it looks very natural. His first step consistently puts offensive tackles in recovery mode, allowing him to win around the edge and create pressure even when he doesn’t record a sack. During his breakout season at Missouri, he finished near the top of the SEC in sacks and pressures while demonstrating the ability to affect games each week.
He also brings a deeper pass-rush toolbox than many college edge rushers. Wilson has shown flashes of winning with speed, long-arm moves, cross chops, and speed-to-power conversions.
Once he clears a blocker, his closing burst stands out immediately. Quarterbacks rarely escape when Wilson gets a free path to the pocket.
His athleticism also shows up away from the quarterback. He can chase plays from the backside, cover ground in pursuit, and create negative plays because of his speed and range.
Weaknesses
The biggest question surrounding Wilson is whether he can become a more complete defender.
He has his moments against the run, but can still improve his ability to consistently set the edge and hold up against bigger offensive linemen. Adding strength should help him become a more reliable three-down player at the next level.
Wilson also relies heavily on athleticism at times. While his pass-rush arsenal continues to develop, there are snaps where his first-step quickness does most of the work. NFL teams will want to see continued growth in his overall pass-rush plan. Scouts understand that, although athletic traits are important, in the NFL, everyone is also athletic, so showing his counters and techniques this year will be huge for his stock.
Another topic evaluators will likely discuss is his college journey. Wilson has now played at Georgia, Missouri, and Miami. In today’s NIL era, transfers have become a normal part of college football, but teams will still ask questions during the draft process.
Last Word on Early Damon Wilson II Draft Profile
Wilson enters the season with first-round talent and the opportunity to play himself into the conversation as one of the top edge rushers in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The transfer history may raise questions for some evaluators, but there is another way to view his move to Miami. Wilson chose to play for a program where he could learn from Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, one of the best pass rushers the game has ever seen. That decision suggests Wilson remains focused on reaching the NFL and maximizing his development.
The tools are obvious. The production followed at Missouri. If he takes another step forward at Miami while becoming a more complete defender against the run, Wilson has a realistic chance to hear his name called early on draft night.
Main Photo: Travis Register-Imagn Images
