Jets analyst believes coaching staff will fix David Bailey's biggest flaw

New York Jets fans on social media are currently tearing themselves apart in what has become a very tribal debate over the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Some fans want Ohio State dynamo Arvell Reese, and some want Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, and neither is changing their minds.

Both will be great prospects, but the pro-Reese crowd has taken aim at Bailey's lack of amazing run defense as a reason to avoid him at No. 2 overall. Those salivating over Reese's boundless potential would also like to see how he would develop next to respected defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.

However, former Jets defensive lineman and CBS analyst Leger Douzable (who played for Dunbar in New York previously) thinks that the veteran assistant may actually be a better nitro booster for Bailey than he would be for the raw Reese.

Douzable claimed that Dunbar helped him improve his run defense more than he did with his pass rush skills, as he insists that Bailey's issues are technique-related rather than due to physical limitations. He followed that claim up by saying Bailey was lined up over offensive tackles often at Texas Tech, which he wouldn't be in the pros.

Leger Douzable says Jets coach Karl Dunbar could fix David Bailey

Bailey may not have the deepest array of pass rush moves, but even the biggest Reese fan would acknowledge that Bailey is the best pure pass rusher in this class. Fresh off leading the country with 14.5 sacks last season, Bailey's speed and first step are genuinely impressive.

The run defense is what is under the microscope, especially with Will McDonald on the roster. Where Bailey differs is the fact that he is a superior prospect as both a run defender and pass rusher, and anyone expecting him to be McDonald (who still has almost 19 sacks in two years) is being overly negative.

While bringing in run-stuffers like T'Vondre Sweat, Kingsley Enagbare, and David Onyemata in the offseason suggests they would add an edge-setter like Reese, those signings could also mitigate Bailey and McDonald sharing the field for heavy minutes. Dunbar, working his magic, only raises the floor.

Reese's ceiling is extremely high, and while there are many valid arguments for him being the pick at No. 2, if the Jets are confident they can fix the biggest hole in Bailey's game, his pass-rush upside might be too tough to pass on at No. 2 overall.

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