Defensive end David Bailey will play a key role as the New York Jets continue to build toward their future.
The New York Jets have had five players who were named Defensive Rookie of the Year. David Bailey is looking to add his name to the list.
Bailey is hoping to join Erik McMillan in 1988, Hugh Douglas in 1995, Jonathan Vilma in 2004, Sheldon Richardson in 2013, and Sauce Gardner in 2002.
The 23-year-old defensive end will be one of the newcomers to watch in the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see whether he can live up to the hype of being the No. 2 pick and adjust to the physicality, speed, and pace of the NFL.
ESPN’s Field Yates picked Bailey as one of the five rookies who will make an immediate impact.
“The Jets did the right thing at No. 2 overall. They did not overthink it. Let’s take clearly the best pass rusher in the draft. Nobody had more sacks than David Bailey in the FBS last year,” said Yates.
“You just love the first-step quickness, the physicality, the heavy hands, the ability to win from a two- or three-point stance. I think David Bailey’s gonna help, which should be a much-improved Jets front seven.”
.@FieldYates ranks his top-5 NFL rookies pic.twitter.com/2fo8km8WWN
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 1, 2026
Bailey earned praise in training camp for his explosiveness, energy, and motor. He was compared to Richardson and Gardner, who anchored the defense of the Jets.
In his four years at Notre Dame and Texas Tech, he collected 163 combined tackles, including 42 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, four passes defended, and 10 forced fumbles. He was named a Unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025.
Other rookies who can make an immediate impact, according to Yates, are Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, New York Giants guard Francis Mauigoa, Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Spencer Fano, and Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs.
The New York Jets have had five players who were named Defensive Rookie of the Year. David Bailey is looking to add his name to the list. Bailey is hoping to join Erik McMillan in 1988, Hugh Douglas in 1995, Jonathan Vilma in 2004, Sheldon Richardson in 2013, and Sauce Gardner in 2002.