Insider shares why Jets passed on David Bailey top-30 visit

A four-year senior who finished his collegiate career with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Bailey (6-foot-4, 251 pounds) is the top ranked edge-defender and No. 2 overall prospect on Sports Info Solutions' big board of 398 draft-eligible players. He's also the top defensive end (No. 4 overall) on NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's ranking of top 50 prospects, while ranking No. 7 overall on The Athletic's Dane Brugler's board and trailing Ohio State Buckeyes edge Arvell Reese, who also brings value as an off-ball linebacker.

After transferring from the Stanford Cardinal, Bailey led FBS with 14.5 sacks in 2025, helping propel Texas Tech to its first Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth.

Draft experts are torn on who the Jets will take at No. 2 overall, although most believe they'll address their defense after finishing No. 31 in points allowed last season, giving up the second-most points in franchise history (503) while becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to fail to record an interception. ESPN's Mel Kiper has New York selecting Bailey, while Brugler and Jeremiah recently tabbed Reese as the pick in their most recent mock drafts.

A week out from the first round of the 2026 draft, it's anyone's guess what New York will do once on the clock. But it's safe to say we can disregard Bailey's canceled visit as having any greater meaning.

Just last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't bring in a single prospect for a top-30 visit and eventually moved up in the first round to select 2024 Heisman-winning cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. Defensive end Shemar Stewart, selected No. 17 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, told retired Cincinnati sports columnist Paul Daugherty after being picked that he "never talked to the Bengals" before hearing his name called. (h/t The Morning Line)

Bailey will still be in play at No. 2 even without the Jets receiving a closer look, which makes sense. Considering the work still needed to improve the defense, New York must keep all options open.