The New York Jets selected former Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey at No. 2 overall during the 2026 NFL draft to help transform their pass rush. Bailey now enters training camp trying to secure a starring role in Aaron Glenn's defense. Whether or not he's on the field for the defense's first snap against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 depends on how much trust he earns at training camp.
Bailey was an excellent pass rusher for the Red Raiders last season, recording 14.5 sacks as one of college football's biggest threats. The Jets finished second-last in sacks last season, accumulating just 26 takedowns. They definitely need Bailey's pass-rushing prowess to take the necessary steps forward.
The Titans are fairly weak at offensive tackle. Blindside
protector Dan Moore is a league-average blocker at best, and right tackle JC Latham had a disappointing injury-riddled sophomore season. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward was sacked a league-high 55 times. Bailey will try to expose those weaknesses in his debut.
If there was a knock on Bailey during the pre-draft process, it was his average results as a run defender at Texas Tech. How he progresses on early downs at training camp could determine how quickly the Jets trust him to play against the Titans in Week 1. The Jets have two new veteran edge rushers in Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare who are proven run defenders.
It'll be exciting to monitor whether or not Bailey takes the field for the Jets' first defensive snap of the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Will David Bailey be on the field for the Jets' first defensive snap?
