Red Raiders' elite pass rusher David Bailey flashes early-round potential, projecting as a top-10 pick for a championship-contending Chiefs squad.
Texas Tech fans have another reason to keep a close eye on the 2026 NFL Draft, as edge rusher David Bailey is projected by some to have the chance of going to a contender immediately.
In a recent mock draft by PFF's Mason Cameron, he has the Red Raiders star to get drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the ninth pick in the first round of the draft.
"It’s unheard of for the Chiefs to be drafting this early in the Mahomes era, so letting the board fall to them and adding a top prospect is the right way to go," Cameron writes. "Bailey earned a 93.8 PFF pass-rush grade, the best figure in college football, and won 21.6% of his pass-rush reps, a top-15 mark, in 2025."
His potential fit in Kansas City is compelling. The Chiefs have built much of their success on timely defensive plays, especially from their pass rush, and Bailey’s skill set aligns naturally with that philosophy.
For Texas Tech, Bailey’s rise represents a significant development for the program. He has emerged as one of the most productive and recognizable defenders in college football during his time in Lubbock.
Known for his quick first step and ability to win one-on-one battles, Bailey has consistently disrupted opposing offenses. His impact goes beyond traditional statistics, as he frequently affects plays even when he doesn’t record a sack.
And this was shown perfectly in his senior season stats.
He racked up 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, both of which led the Big 12 Conference. Not only that, his sack numbers were the best in CFB, and his 19.5 tackles for loss were second.
Before transferring to Texas Tech, Bailey began his collegiate career at Stanford. However, it was with the Red Raiders that he truly elevated his game and developed into a national prospect.
His performances have drawn praise not only from scouts but also from analytics-based evaluations. Advanced grading systems have consistently placed him among the top pass rushers in the country.
Landing with the Chiefs would offer Bailey an opportunity to contribute to a team with championship aspirations. It would also place him in a system where his strengths could be maximized early in his professional career.
For Red Raider fans, the possibility of seeing Bailey hear his name called early on draft night would be a proud moment. And it would make it even better if it was to a franchise as storied as the Chiefs.