Dominant Red Raiders defender David Bailey's elite pass-rush grade ignites buzz for a top-three NFL draft selection.
Texas Tech fans have another reason to celebrate this draft season — one of the most dominant defenders in school history is poised to be among the very first names called.
In the most recent 2026 three-round mock draft from Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus, he has Red Raiders edge rusher David Bailey projected to go No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
"One of the hottest debates of draft season will center on whether Bailey or Miami edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. should be the first edge defender selected," McGuinness writes. "Both are excellent prospects, but Bailey gets the nod after producing a 93.8 PFF pass-rush grade in 2025."
Bailey’s journey to potential top-three status started long before his breakout 2025 campaign. A native of Orange, California and a standout at Mater Dei High School, Bailey began his collegiate career at Stanford, where he showed flashes of elite pass-rushing talent. Over three seasons there, he compiled 111 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, drawing notice from scouts.
But it was his decision to transfer to Texas Tech that truly unlocked his NFL-caliber potential. In Lubbock, Bailey’s game took off — he became a relentless presence off the edge, terrorizing offensive tackles and leading the nation in PFF pass-rush grade with a figure near the very top of all defenders.
That blend of elite production and physical traits — including explosive burst off the line, bend around the edge, and an ability to consistently disrupt quarterbacks — is exactly what teams covet at the next level.
For Red Raiders fans, this projection is validation of what Tech has seen in Bailey up close: a playmaker whose presence reshaped Texas Tech’s defense in 2025 and put opposing offenses on notice. His breakout season wasn’t just about statistics — it was about leadership, consistency, and a relentless motor that powered him into the conversation as one of the best edge defenders in the entire class.
While draft day still lies ahead and the actual order may shift, Bailey’s top-three projection underscores a remarkable rise from standout college star to one of the most coveted defensive players in the country.