Jets selected Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

24 April 2026

Unanimous All-American and Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year David Bailey (6’3/250) delivered a dominant all-around season in 2025, earning an elite 93.6 overall PFF grade with standout marks as a pass rusher (94th-percentile). He was consistently effective off the edge, piling up 81 total pressures that included 14.5 sacks, 23 hits, and 43 hurries, while also batting 2 passes at the line of scrimmage. Bailey paired that havoc with reliable run defense (78.1 run-defense grade) and strong tackling efficiency, recording 40 stops with a manageable 11.9% missed-tackle rate. He backed up the ample production with high level testing, recording 99th-percentile marks in the 40-yard dash (4.50s) and broad jump (10’9”) for a pristine 9.68 RAS. The combination of high-end pressure production, paired with elevated play against the run, makes Bailey one of the most decorated and projectable defenders in the class, and a potential cornerstone of the Jets’ rebuilding defense.