David Bailey

Summary

David Bailey (22 years old) is a disruptive edge defender who began his college career at Stanford (2022–2024) before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2025 season, with no other stops in his career. In his most recent 2025 season with the Red Raiders, Bailey totaled 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, earning him Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, First-Team All-Big 12 honors, and consensus First-Team All-America recognition. There are no academic or off-field red flags for Bailay and he is viewed as a high-character, professional, and team-first individual. Overall, Bailey’s combination of elite production, accolades, athleticism, effort, and strong character has checked most boxes as one of the most respected defensive prospects in college football.

Strengths

  • Mongoose: ELITE, and I mean, ELITE, first step quickness and burst. Consistently stresses cumbersome offensive tackles with suddenness and sets up blockers with step angles.

  • The Aggressor: Builds momentum through his rush and can collapse the pocket by driving blockers backward. Plays with edge and urgency, consistently attacking blockers rather than reacting.

  • Pass Rush Dynamo: Uses swipes, chops, and arm-over moves to disengage and keep rushes alive.

  • Pressure Cooker: Frequently penetrates and forces quarterbacks off their spot, creating negative plays. Strong finisher who will rack up pressures and sack totals ad nauseam, leading all 2026 edge prospects in Depth pressure score (10.66 out of 10.00)

Weaknesses

  • South Bend: Bailey isn’t stiff, but doesn’t have the same caliber of ankle flexion, bend, and hip flexibility as most fastball rushers running the arc. At times pops upright, reducing leverage and allowing linemen to latch on.

  • What’s the Plan?: Will rely on speed alone instead of sequencing counters when his initial move is stalled. In isolation, Bailey has a bag of moves, but still learning when and where to stack them.

  • Play Strength: Needs added functional strength to better handle double teams and down blocks.

  • Coverage Utility: Limited experience dropping into space, keeping his value mostly as a designated pass rusher.

Outlook

Bailey is a high-motor, explosive pass-rusher with a strong first step, violent hands, and the ability to win with both finesse and power, giving him upside as a consistent pressure generator on all three downs. He projects best in attacking defensive fronts that utilize 4-3 alignment with a wide 9 edge defender or hybrid 3-4 schemes where he can play in a two-point stance. Bailey will be a useful closer on teams that are looking for a consistent carnage wrecker to help close on quarterbacks or force pressures that will in turn create more turnovers on critical downs. Bailey’s skill set and production points to a top-five pick in this class, but as he isn’t a perfect scheme fit for every team, there is a world where Bailey can slip just outside the top 10, but likely no further than Baltimore at 14.

Pro Comparison: Brian Burns

Team Fits: NYJ, TEN, WAS, NO, BAL