Jets draft high-motor pass rusher David Bailey out of Texas Tech
The Jets made the pass rusher from Texas Tech the first defensive player off the board in 2026.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Jets get a ready-made starter with the second overall pick — their first pick of the first round — with the selection of David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech. Here’s everything you need to know.
Stats & Accolades 2022: (11 games played, 9 starts), 46 total tackles, 8. 5 tackles for loss, 2. 5 sacks, two forced fumbles 2023: (10 games played, 5 starts), 34 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks 2024: (12 games played, 2 starts), 31 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, pass defended, five forced fumbles 2025: (13 games played, 13 starts), 52 total tackles, 19.
5 tackles for loss, 14. 5 sacks, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, fumble recovery, Unanimous All-American, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, First-Team All-Big 12 What the Jets are getting: A twitched-up pass rusher with elite quickness who can burst past blockers in a blink. Bailey’s motor runs high from the snap and he’s perfectly comfortable changing his pass rush plan on the fly.
Bailey exhibits notable body contortion to bend and slide around tackles who dare give him the slightest short corner. While there are some who believe he doesn’t have the pure strength at the point of attack to be a dominant player on all three downs, he’s going to make the downs he does play a lot more favorable for the defense. Strengths Knifes through blockers in a flash Knows how to set up rush path to take most efficient path to quarterback Turns immense speed off the snap into equally impressive power into the tackle’s chest Almost nonexistent reaction to counter offensive tackle’s pass set Has that “time to take over the game” mindset Weakness Take-on strength is lacking and can become stalled if he does not win with his first move Can be torqued out of running lanes if blockers win hand battle Can whiff on chops and swipes leading to the failure of promising rushes Athletic Testing/Measurables Height: 6’4 Weight: 251 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.