Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey was selected No. 2 overall by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. Bailey becomes the second-highest draft pick in program history and the highest defensive player ever selected.
"It's surreal to me, man. It's a great experience. It's an awesome opportunity," Bailey said from the draft stage in downtown Pittsburgh after hugging NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "I'm grateful to all the fans who came out here tonight. I just want to be a sponge, soak up everything, and make me the best player I can be to help this organization. I think they want to go in the right direction, and I'm just ready to work."
Dave Parks, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, is the only Red Raider to be selected higher. Bailey is the 10th first-round pick in program history and the second under head coach Joey McGuire, who recently completed his fourth season. Fellow edge rusher Tyree Wilson was previously selected No. 7 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bailey, along with linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, became the sixth and seventh individuals in program history to earn unanimous All-America honors this past December. It also marked the seventh and eighth instances overall that a Red Raider has received unanimous All-America recognition, with Michael Crabtree remaining the program's only two-time honoree.
He was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year by league coaches, becoming the first Red Raider to earn the conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year honor and only the second to be recognized as its top defensive newcomer, joining McKinner Dixon (2008). Bailey was also the lone unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection by the coaches.
Bailey appeared in all 14 games with 13 starts during his lone season at Texas Tech after transferring from Stanford. He posted career highs with 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks, while contributing to the Red Raiders' FBS-leading 32 takeaways with three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
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