David

Bailey

The Jets used their No. 2 overall pick to shore up their pass-rush with the selection of Bailey. The former Texas Tech Red Raider racked up a blistering 14.5 sacks and 19.5 TFLs in his last collegiate season, earning Unanimous All-American honors while also being named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. In their first season under head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets were among the worst defenses in the league, allowing the second-most points and the eighth-most yards per game, and were one of the worst against the pass. They impressively failed to force an interception all of last season and tallied the second-fewest sacks (26) of any team. If he lives up to his potential, Bailey should help improve those sack totals and may even force a quarterback into making a bad decision or two along the way.

Unanimous All-American and Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year David Bailey (6’4/251) 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.

There is “an internal debate” in the Jets’ organization between drafting Reese or Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey. Bailey, 22, is generally regarded as the draft’s top pass rusher and is knocked for his run defense. Reese is a complete player and is currently just 20 years old. Hughes notes that current Jets EDGE Will McDonald is a great pass rusher, but can be a liability in run defense. McDonald and Bailey would form a potent pass rush duo, but could be a suboptimal tandem against the run.

Rapoport reports the Jets are between the two pass rushers for the second pick of this year’s draft. The Jets recently cancelled a top-30 visit with Bailey, presumably due to having enough information on the Texas Tech EDGE and needing the visit for another prospect. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is also in heavy consideration. Much of the draft after pick No. 2 will be determined by which pass rusher the Jets select; pick No. 3 is currently with the Cardinals but could be moved depending on the selection at No. 2.

In a video report from earlier today, Venerable outlined a potential trade in which the Saints acquire the No. 3 overall pick from the Cardinals in exchange for the Nos. 8, 42 and 73 overall picks. He notes “no 2027 draft capital is exchanged with New Orleans,” and told viewers, “I think that’s the preference for these teams — in fact, I know it.” Per Venerable, the Cardinals “are looking to do their damage” in the draft this year, rather than next year. It sounds like Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort needs to leave the draft with meaningful personnel upgrades. Venerable notes that the Cardinals recently hosted Miami OT Francis Mauigoa (back) for a top-30 visit. He would be in play for them in this scenario. Yesterday, Venerable reported that the Cardinals have discussed a potential trade back with the Chiefs as well. He believes both the Saints and Chiefs are targeting either Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey or Ohio State LB Arvell Reese.

We now have five reported top-30 visits for Bailey. He previously met with the Cowboys, Chiefs and Cardinals. Bailey was scheduled to meet with the Jets as well, but the team cancelled the visit because they had “all the information they already needed.” The Titans pick at No. 4 overall, and the Commanders pick at No. 7. A top-four pick may be required to snag Bailey.

Schultz adds that if the Cardinals were to keep the pick, their preferred player remains “the biggest mystery” among teams slated to pick in the top five. They have been linked to Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and recently hosted Alabama QB Ty Simpson for a top-30 visit. Pass rushers like Ohio State LB Arvell Reese and Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey are also in play. If Simpson is the target, trading back a bit while ideally adding a future first-round pick could be their plan.

Bailey was scheduled for a last-minute visit with the Jets, but they surprisingly called off the meeting at the last second. It still wasn’t clear what that meant for their pick at the time. Nothing has changed, though Schefter’s comments read positively for Bailey. Our lean is that the pick is Bailey, in line with the rumblings from the national insiders, but we’re not calling the race yet. Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese is still firmly in the mix.

Bailey was slated to visit the Jets but as Hughes reports, the team cancelled the visit. The Texas Tech pass rusher is a candidate for the Jets to select No. 2 overall, likely as the first non-quarterback selected. Teams use Top 30 visits for a variety of reasons, so cancelling Bailey’s visit does not necessarily mean the Jets are definitively out on him. They may just be using the visit for a different prospect and are confident in the information they already have on Bailey through prior conversations. Still, it is a notable action and could very well indicate a decision on the pick has been made by New York. The Jets have a slew of options with Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, among others, also in consideration at No. 2. We don’t have enough information to say Bailey will or won’t be going to the Jets, but this certainly could be an early indicator that they have made a decision.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn said he looks at Ohio State LB Arvell Reese the way he looks at Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter. “I look at [Reese] the same way. Man, it’s a combination of the traits and this combination of the football character again. Is that player coachable enough to be able to do the things that you want him to do to be successful?” Glenn asked rhetorically. The headline of this piece is “Jets leaning towards LB Arvell Reese with second overall pick,” but we wouldn’t say it quite hits that level of dedication. Still, it makes plenty of sense for the Jets to wind up at that conclusion. Cimini also noted that Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey and Ohio State LB Sonny Styles figure to draw consideration at No. 2 overall.