Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is gaining top-two NFL Draft buzz after a dominant 2025 season and major praise from Brian Baldinger.
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is already one of the biggest names in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the New York Jets are now being connected to him near the very top of the board.
Bailey has been widely projected as a top-10 pick, but NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger believes the former Texas Tech star belongs even higher.
During a recent NFL Network appearance, Baldinger said he would take Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick, pointing to the Jets’ need for a true difference-maker off the edge.
“The best choice is David Bailey,” Baldinger said, explaining that teams should build around a quarterback and then find someone who can chase the opposing quarterback.
That’s exactly what Bailey did in his lone season with the Red Raiders. The 6-foot-4, 251-pound pass rusher from Irvine, California, tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks in 2025.
He also ranked second nationally with 19.5 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles across 14 games, including 13 starts.
Those numbers helped Bailey earn First-team Associated Press All-American honors, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year recognition.
He was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s top lineman.
Baldinger called Bailey the best edge rusher in the class, praising his first step, production and ability to win against top competition.
He also said the Jets could begin reshaping their defense by adding Bailey as a foundational piece.
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Bailey to Nik Bonitto and highlighted his explosiveness, bend and ability to create problems from multiple angles.
Zierlein noted that Bailey still needs to keep developing his hand usage and rush plan, but called his athletic talent “truly elite” and gave him Pro Bowl upside.
For the Jets, who have several roster needs, Bailey would represent a bold swing on premium talent.
For Texas Tech, it would be another massive NFL Draft moment for a defensive star who turned one season in Lubbock into top-five buzz.
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