The New York Jets defense was among the worst in the NFL in splash plays last season. You knew that despite their issues on offense their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft would be to add a playmaker on defense. This is exactly what they did when the chose Texas Tech Edge defender David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick.

Bailey is a wrecking machine off the edge. He's incredibly productive, was a clear leader on a very talented defense and is going to brig that level of production and athleticism to a defensive line that desperately needs him. As a team, the Jets only had 26 sacks all of last season.

For the Jets, Bailey represents not a player who can be a leader on this defense now, but he is going to make a secondary that was incapable of getting turnovers much better. His natural bend and burst is as good as it gets in this draft and was our highest-rated defensive player for nearly the entire offseason.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Live 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Jets select EDGE David Bailey