New York Jets select David Bailey, edge from Texas Tech, with No. 2 pick in 2026 NFL Draft

AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterNFL Draft UpdatesThe BeastConsensus RankingsTop 300 Rankings7-Round Draft Order2026 NFL Draft David Bailey emerged as one of college football's best defensive players in 2025, his lone season at Texas Tech. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Share articleThe Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft. The New York Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. Bailey was the first edge rusher taken and fourth Red Raider chosen in the first round in the last 10 years, joining quarterback Patrick Mahomes (2017), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (2020) and edge rusher Tyree Wilson (2023). Bailey emerged as one of college football’s best defensive players in 2025, his lone season at Texas Tech. He finished second in the FBS in total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus (81), second in tackles for loss (19.5) and tied for the national lead in sacks (14.5). Bailey was the catalyst on a Texas Tech defense that dominated the Big 12, earning the program’s first conference championship and its first berth in the College Football Playoff. Before transferring to Texas Tech, Bailey spent three seasons at Stanford, increasing his sack production each year he was on campus. He led the Cardinal in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles in 2024 and was set to return in 2025, but elected to enter the transfer portal last spring when Stanford coach Troy Taylor was fired. In 2025 Bailey was a consensus first-team All-American, a Lombardi Award finalist and Big 12 defensive lineman of the year. Bailey ranked No. 7 in Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: “A linear-based pass rusher, Bailey fires off the ball like a sprinter, with stride length and hell-raising intentions to quickly build forceful momentum to the quarterback. He is at his best with a runway and must continue to polish his secondary moves. He is a violent strikethrough tackler and showed clear improvements as a run defender in 2025, although his take-on skills and instincts need more work.” Likely to be a versatile NFL starter: quick-twitch, disruptive, powerful and explosive. What an anonymous coach had to say about Bailey in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft: “He has this ability to switch gears in an instant. He’ll get off the ball really quick but then shut it down and make a move as fast as he got off the ball. That’s why he’s such a problem for tackles in space or when he’s one-on-one with a guard, because they can’t stop and go like he can and still have power. I thought that was his superpower.” — Big 12 assistant Of all the prospects that made sense for the Jets to consider at No. 2, Bailey looks most ready to contribute right away in one key area: sacks. He has the talent, athleticism and production to potentially get 10 sacks as a rookie. There’s an argument to be made he’ll be the Jets’ best pass rusher on Day 1. The Jets’ inability to force turnovers last season — zero interceptions and four takeaways, both NFL records — came up often. But an underrated contributing factor was inconsistent pressure up front. The Jets finished 29th in sack rate and last in pressure rate last season. Their sacks leader (Will McDonald) had eight, but six came in two games. The Jets need to improve on the back end too, but the best way to make life easier for their defensive backs is to get pressure up front. Bailey is an impressive athlete (he ran a 4.5-second 40 at 251 pounds), which helped him lead the FBS in sacks (14.5) and total pressures (73). He finished second in tackles for loss (20) and QB hits (18). He has elite get-off — though he is a work in progress against the run. Presumably, Bailey will be expected to step in immediately as a starter at outside linebacker. If the Jets didn’t believe he was ready to start as a rookie they wouldn’t have drafted him with the No. 2 pick, over a player (Arvell Reese) many considered the better prospect with a higher ceiling. The idea is that Bailey is more ready to make an impact right away in a season when Aaron Glenn — who took over as play-caller this offseason — needs to win games to potentially save his job. Bailey and McDonald would seem to be the starters on the outside, though the Jets just spent a good amount of money signing Joseph Ossai (three years, $36 million) and Kingsley Enagbare (one year, $10 million) in free agency. Both are also better against the run than Bailey and McDonald. Reese, Brugler’s No. 1 prospect in his draft rankings throughout the process. This pick ultimately came down to Bailey or Reese. For much of the draft cycle, many national insiders projected Bailey because of his ready-made pass-rushing skills — an area in which Reese doesn’t have as much experience. Reese is viewed as more of a developmental pass rusher, though he is good against the run and brings a unique level of versatility as a player who can both rush off the edge and play inside at linebacker. That felt like a great fit for the new, multiple defense Glenn plans on running. But ultimately, the Jets opted to go for more of a sure thing — even if Reese’s ceiling might be higher long-term. If not for the question of positional value, the Jets might have considered Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or safety Caleb Downs, but it would’ve been difficult to justify drafting players at those positions with the No. 2 pick. The reasoning for drafting Bailey was understandable — even if the Jets’ process getting here was somewhat strange. Late in the process, the Jets canceled a top-30 visit with Bailey at their facility in Florham Park, explaining afterward that they felt they had all the information they needed and wanted to use that visit on other players. The Jets spoke with Bailey at the NFL combine and at his pro day, even — per GM Darren Mougey — having dinner with him the night before. But in an interview with SNY on Wednesday, Bailey indicated he didn’t remember much of his interaction with Jets brass and that he didn’t get to have the in-depth conversations with them he would have had he visited the team facility. It’s unclear why the Jets went about the process this way (they hosted Reese for a visit), even if they ultimately chose a player who should make an immediate impact. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms