Is Texas Tech’s David Bailey the best pass rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft?
If he declares, he will be one of the top edge rushers following an outstanding season in the Big 12. Bailey led Texas Tech with 13.5 sacks and led the nation in pressure rate ranking from 19.9 percent to as high as 28.4 percent.
While the numbers are outstanding, what NFL teams will love about Bailey is his strength despite being undersized at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. With his explosiveness off the snap, array of pass rush moves, and that pure strength noted above a player like Bailey will be highly effective in any defense in a 3-4 scheme.
In all, Bailey will need to be versatile enough to maneuver his impact in multiple scenes, but with the way he can get after the quarterback, NFL teams will have him high on their 2026 NFL Draft board.
David Bailey is relentless in his pursuit to the QB
ESPN’s Matt Miller has David Bailey ranked as a top 20 prospect in his latest top 50 prospects noting his relentless thunder off the line from the snap. That explosive first step along with his high motor will make him a force to be reckoned with at the NFL level.
Miller writes
“Bailey was the nation's most impactful defensive transfer, finishing the regular season with an FBS-leading 13.5 sacks after arriving from Stanford. He also has 62 pressures (second most in the FBS). Bailey's first step causes problems for offensive tackles, and he counters well with leverage and strong hands. He is also relentless in pursuing the ball, which has helped him rack up 18.5 tackles for loss this season.”
Also Read: Top landing spots for Ohio State Buckeyes WR Carnell Tate in the 2026 NFL Draft
There will be many teams looking for an edge rusher like Bailey in the 2026 NFL Draft. He will be a first rounder no doubt, but how high in the draft will he land? Here are 3 top NFL fits for the Texas Tech edge rusher.
3 NFL teams in position to land David Bailey
Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals need a disruptive playmaker like David Bailey coming off the edge to pair with 2025 NFL Draft first round pick Shemar Stewart. With the team appearing to be at the end of the road with Trey Hendrickson, nabbing a defender off the edge like Bailey will be beneficial. Again, he is undersized, but the power and strength of Bailey could lead to something interesting in Cincinnati if he can Stewart can grow together as bookend edge rushers in the AFC North.
Other first round options for the Bengals: Spencer Fano (T), Keldrick Faulk (EDGE), Peter Woods (DL)
Washington Commanders:
The Commanders simply need to get younger at the edge rush position. It will be hard to believe Von Miller will be back for another season (at least with Washington) and both Jacob Martin and Deatrich Wise Jr will be free agents following the season. Naturally, edge rusher will be at the top of the list of needs for the Commanders. Given where they may be selecting, if Rueben Bain Jr or Sonny Styles are off the board, a player like Bailey makes a lot of sense for the Commanders given his explosiveness of the snap and ability to speed up the quarterback.
Other first round options for the Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB), Peter Woods (DL), Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE)
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are going to be a potential landing spot for any of the top pass rushers in this draft. With two first round picks, they will use at least one of those picks to get another reliable edge rusher on defense. In leading the FBS in sacks, Bailey’s pressure rate will intrigue most teams, particularly the Cowboys who will be looking to replace the production and on-the-field impact of Micah Parsons. It would be ironic if the Cowboys used the pick obtained for Parsons on Bailey (if he were to slide to the early 20s in the 2026 NFL Draft).
Other first round options for the Cowboys: Sonny Styles (LB), Keldric Faulk (EDGE), Caleb Downs (S)