Jets' David Bailey tapped as Rookie of the Year favorite after surprising No. 2 pick

The New York Jets may have surprised some when they opted to take Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey over Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean that Bailey is not someone capable of being an immediate impact player.

Not only will Bailey give the Jets more teeth off the edge, but he could be in for a rookie season that ends up dwarfing the rest of a very defense-heavy NFL Draft class.

ESPN's Ben Solak listed Bailey as his No. 1 contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Reese checking in a few spots behind him at No. 5 overall. The rest of the top five was rounded out by Tampa Bay's Rueben Bain Jr., Kansas City's Mansoor Delane, and Washington's Sonny Styles, none of whom could outshine Bailey.

ESPN's Ben Solak names Jets' David Bailey as Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite

On one hand, the Jets' status as one of the dregs of the league might make it hard for Bailey to get the national publicity that he needs to get a ROY campaign off the ground. On the other hand, awards are often decided on flashy counting stats like sacks and interceptions, and Bailey should be in the backfield quite often.

Bailey's ability to get to the quarterback and generate sacks not only appeals to a Jets team that ranked 31st in sacks and is fresh off trading Jermaine Johnson II, but Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey thought that trait was more translatable than Reese's versatility.

Bailey will likely be one of the starting edge rushers alongside a combination of fellow first-rounder Will McDonald and free agent signing Joseph Ossai. Bailey's quick get-off, efficiency, and consistency suggest that he will be able to immediately make the switch to the NFL without losing his edge.

After adding T'Vondre Sweat and David Onyemata in the offseason before using a fourth-round pick on mammoth defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr., the Jets are seemingly banking on their deep defensive line giving them enough stalwart space-eaters to make up for Bailey and McDonald on the end.

The Jets made Bailey the highest-drafted defensive player in NFL history, and with that hefty investment, they should expect nothing less than him instantly becoming one of the best players on this team and the best pass rusher this team has had in years.

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