Markus

Bailey

Bailey has been a special-teams-only player for Arizona this year. He’s mainly played as a depth linebacker for the Bengals on run downs in his NFL career after they drafted him with a seventh-round pick in 2020. Bailey will be eligible to return at the end of the season, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cardinals moved on given his sparse role for the team.

Bailey (6’0/235) was a captain and four-year starting strong-side linebacker at Purdue who only played two games as a redshirt senior after tearing his ACL. Bailey tore his other ACL in 2015 and had hip surgery in 2019, so his medical history is quite worrisome. When healthy, he is an instinctive player with high-end production — he made at least 89 tackles in three-straight seasons — but his average size and athleticism paired with his health make his NFL projection difficult. Bailey has the mental makeup and production to compete for starting reps if healthy, but he has no floor.

Bailey (6’0/235) was a captain and four-year starting strong-side linebacker at Purdue who only played two games as a redshirt senior after tearing his ACL. Bailey tore his other ACL in 2015 and had hip surgery in 2019, so his medical history is quite worrisome. When healthy, he is an instinctive player with high-end production — he made at least 89 tackles in three-straight seasons — but his average size and athleticism paired with his health make his NFL projection difficult. Bailey has the mental makeup and production to compete for starting reps if healthy, but he has no floor.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic NFL Draft prospects (and the teams evaluating them) have been forced to make adjustments. In Bailey’s case it means going through his pro day at a facility in Phoenix, with the Fischer Institute having been declared an “essential” business by the state since it also provides physical therapy. The 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker, who missed much of the 2019 season due to a knee injury, will do all of the drills that his position group did at the NFL Scouting Combine and the tape will be sent to all 32 teams. Due to the knee injury Bailey only did the bench press (15 reps) in Indianapolis. He has interviewed virtually with the Chiefs and Patriots, while also having held conversations with the 49ers, Bengals and Vikings.

Per Boilermakers HC Jeff Brohm, Bailey injured his knee without contact near the end of Tuesday’s practice. The redshirt senior will be undergoing surgery in the coming days, after swelling has gone down. This is not the first time the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Bailey has had to undergo season-ending knee surgery, as he was also put down by a knee injury early on during the 2015 season. His loss stings, as Bailey is coming off a strong season, posting 115 tackles (9.0 for loss), 6.5 sacks and an interception last fall. He could potentially apply for a sixth year of eligibility, though it’s possible that he opts instead to call it a day with college in order to declare for the NFL Draft. As for Purdue’s next move, look for Cornel Jones to step in as starter in place of Bailey.

That makes him the top pro prospect on the Boilermakers’ roster. We’ve heard a lot of good things from analysts about Bailey this summer, with some grading him among the most underrated players in the country. He received a 84.5 grade in coverage last year by Pro Football Focus, but Pauline believes that the defender has “limitations” in that area. He also notes that some have him as a third-round prospect, so with another strong season, we could see Bailey go on Day 2 in 2020.

After playing in just three games in 2015 due to a season-ending knee injury, Bailey (6'1/240) has been a mainstay in the Purdue defense. He’s started 38 games in the last three seasons, and in 2018 the fifth-year senior led Purdue with 115 total tackles. In addition to the tackles, Bailey was responsible for nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Markus Bailey should be a household name by now, but another season like 2018 will rectify that.

That is the outlet’s best coverage grade for any returning Big Ten linebacker. Bailey’s overall PFF grade last season was a respectable 83.0. His traditional marks are equally impressive, as the 6-foot-1, 240-pound redshirt senior posted 115 total tackles (9.0 for loss), 6.5 for loss, a forced fumble and an interception. A physical, hard-hitting linebacker, Bailey was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason All-American third team earlier this summer.

Bailey (6'1/240) is a big, physical linebacker who made 115 total tackles last year for the Boilermakers. But he also holds his own in pass coverage. Pro Football Focus credits Bailey with allowing a 77.3 passer rating while in coverage. Age will be a draft stock knock, but Bailey is a skilled player who should warrant Day 2 or Day 3 consideration if he repeats last year’s performance.

Bailey had a strong all-around season as a redshirt junior with an 8.3 percent run-stop percentage and 77.3 passer rating allowed in coverage. Pro Football Focus gave him an 84.5 in coverage and an 83.0 overall last season. He finished last season with 115 total tackles (nine for a loss) and 6.5 sacks. Bailey will look to add to his impressive numbers in what figures to be his final season of collegiate football.