Jets' No. 2 overall pick David Bailey more than just a pass rusher, his college DC says
Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey puts on a hat after being chosen by the New York Jets with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
The first time Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood watched David Bailey’s game film, the pass-rushing skills jumped off the screen. But Wood saw something else.
An every-down defensive end.
Bailey was mostly a situational player in three seasons at Stanford. He sometimes lined up off the line of scrimmage. That changed when he transferred to Texas Tech last year. Wood made sure that Bailey was on the field as much as possible.
“You could see that, man, this guy has the ability to rush the passer,” Wood told Newsday in a phone interview. “I could see his ability to also play defensive end in the run game. I could see the translation, even though maybe it wasn't something that he did a ton of.”
Wood is confident it will translate to the NFL, too. He believes that Bailey, who the Jets drafted with the No. 2 overall pick, will continue to improve his all-around game with more experience.
“David's really good right now, but I still think that he's only scratching the surface of what he's going to become,” Wood said. “Part of that's just from the transitional standpoint in terms of what he did at Stanford and then what he did with us at Texas Tech.
“He became an every-down defensive end that rushed the passer and played the run on the line of scrimmage every snap. That's just totally different than what he was used to doing at Stanford. So I think he grew a lot during that time with us last year.”
Bailey’s explosive first step and quick get-off should also translate to the NFL. His pass-rushing skills, first and foremost, made him the Jets’ pick over Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said, "We just felt like Bailey fit us better.”
The Jets will hold their rookie minicamp on Friday and Saturday. Wood expects Bailey to make the type of immediate impression on the Jets and their coaches as he did when he arrived at Texas Tech.
“Oh yeah,” Wood said. “Just tremendous.”
Bailey helped Texas Tech to a program-best 12-2 record, their first Big 12 championship and first berth in the College Football Playoff. He used his combination of athleticism, speed and sheer power to tie for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks. He also had 19.5 tackles for loss.
“His get-off, his explosion, he’s got the total package,” Wood said. “He's got speed to power. He’s just got a relentless ability to finish on the quarterback.”
Wood saw Bailey grow as a run defender. There was “a maturation phase” because Bailey had some rocky moments.
“Early on, maybe at times, he got knocked off the ball sometimes a little bit on a double team or something like that,” Wood said. “As you work through the season, you see his development in the run game. He was able to hold the point on the line of scrimmage against double teams. Towards the latter part, I think he really started to kind of come into his own in that regard.
“We were the number one rushing defense in the country last year, and he played defensive end for us to the wide side of the field, virtually every snap, on all downs. He was a big part of our success in the run game. I think that's something that he's just going to continue to get better at the more he does it.”
Bailey is a welcome addition to a defense that underachieved last season. The Jets had the second-fewest sacks and were 29th in run defense. Glenn said Bailey still has room to improve as a run stopper, but he’s got all the tools to be an impactful pass rusher.
“We're going to try to unlock everything that he can do,” Glenn said.
Glenn, who will be calling the defense this season, plans to play multiple fronts with Bailey and Will McDonald lining up on each edge. Bailey has familiarity with that. Wood played a 3-4 and a 4-3. Bailey lined up on the outside in both formations and made plays.
“Because of his experience with us last year, his whole repertoire, he’s got a lot that he can do now,” Wood said. “He’s just got such a great, athletic skill set. In the NFL, affecting that quarterback in that league is a premium and that's what he does at an extremely high level.
“I think he developed a lot as a pass rusher for us for last year and I still think he hasn't reached the ceiling in that regard either. He loves putting in the work. If he continues to have that mindset every day, it's just going to help him continue to stack days and improve his ability to impact the outcome of those games for New York.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
