Miami edge rusher Damon Wilson II is already drawing attention as a name to know for the New Orleans Saints in the 2027 NFL Draft, and it’s easy to see why. He brings rare burst, polished pass-rush skill, and the kind of frame that makes evaluators lean in. If he keeps trending the way he has, his name should come up a lot next offseason.
For the Saints, the fit starts with need. Edge rusher looks like a spot that could demand serious attention.
Chase Young is a star, but the depth behind him is thin. Cameron Jordan is expected to be a major part of the 2025 picture, though retirement could be on the table after that year.
Carl Granderson, meanwhile, has been inconsistent and has vanished from certain games. That combination makes a strong case for investing real resources into the position.
Wilson checks a lot of boxes. The six-foot-four, 250-pound senior spent his first two seasons at Georgia before transferring to Missouri ahead of 2025.
He delivered there, finishing with nine sacks, 54 pressures, and a 16.9% pass rush win rate. Now at Miami, he’s looking to step into the production left behind by first-round picks Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.
What jumps off the tape is the explosion. Wilson shoots out of his stance, fires off the line with a lightning-quick first step, and turns speed into power in a way that overwhelms blockers.
That athleticism alone would make him dangerous, but his real separator is how refined he already is as a pass rusher. At an estimated 34 inches, his arms help him get into an offensive lineman’s chest and work through a full menu of moves, including a rip, swim, or club before the blocker can settle in.
There are still things to clean up, and that matters. Wilson is not a finished product, especially against the run.
Right now, he’s more of a designated pass rusher than an all-around defender, and he can be displaced by stronger blocking, including from a plus-blocking tight end, as shown in the Texas A&M game. If he wants to cement himself as a first-round prospect, proving he can hold up better in 2026 will be a big part of the process.
It’s still early, and this is not about declaring the Saints must draft him. Summer scouting is about getting ahead of the curve and identifying the players worth tracking.
Wilson fits that description. He’s a prospect New Orleans should have firmly on the radar.
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