Jets draft target David Bailey shines with dominant NFL Combine performance

The New York Jets enter the 2026 offseason with many needs on both sides of the ball as Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey look to improve upon their three wins in 2025. One of those needs is to add another pass-rusher off the edge.

After Thursday's trade, which saw the Jets send defensive end Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, pass rush juice off the edge is even more of a focus now for New York.

Selecting No. 2 overall, the Jets will have plenty of pass rusher options to choose from when April rolls around. Among the top names are Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain, both of whom are coming off monster junior seasons.

Another name to watch is David Bailey, who continues to see his stock rise, and with an impressive NFL combine performance, his name is only getting louder.

David Bailey's NFL combine performance should excite Jets fans

It was an excellent day for Bailey inside Lucas Oil Stadium. After measuring in at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, Bailey ran an impressive 4.50 40-yard dash while tallying a 1.62 10-yard split.

The Texas Tech product also finished with a 35-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9-inch broad jump. Simply put, his athleticism was on full display, and these results match up with previous strong NFL combine performances.

Bailey's 40-yard dash was faster than Antonio Cromartie's, while his 10-yard split was faster than Davante Adams. The senior linebacker also topped AJ Green's vertical jump and Adrian Peterson's broad jump.

Bailey has already been an intriguing option for the Jets with the second overall pick, but this performance only strengthens his case. The 22-year-old would fit into exactly what the Jets need coming off the edge in a new look 3-4 defense.

In his lone season with Texas Tech after transferring from Stanford, Bailey tallied 52 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, 73 pressures, and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2025. Bailey's 14.5 sacks and 73 pressures led the nation, while his 19.5 tackles for loss finished at the top of the Big 12 conference.

Bailey also finished with a strong 92.4 Pro Football Focus overall grade and a 93.3 pass rush grade. The California native tallied a solid 76.4 run defense grade while adding 32 run stops.

The numbers don't even tell the whole story when looking at Bailey as a prospect. The eye test is also impressive. His athleticism and jump off the line of scrimmage, paired with his deep pass rush repertoire, make him very much in play for the Jets in April.

After a season where the Jets finished last in the AFC in sacks with just 26, there is no hiding the fact that they seriously need upgrades on the edge. Bailey's impact in college and the Jets' need at the position would make this pick a welcome sight in Florham Park.