David Bailey is a 22-year-old 6’3, 250-pound edge rusher out of Texas Tech. A native of Irvine, California, Bailey attended Mater Dei High School before beginning his collegiate career at Stanford, where he played three seasons (2022-2024). He then transferred to Texas Tech in 2025 for his final season of college. In his lone season with the Red Raiders, Bailey led the FBS with 14.5 sacks and added 19.5 tackles for loss. His dominance earned him numerous honors, including 2025 AP All-American First Team, 2025 Sports Illustrated All-American: First Team, and 2025 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Bailey displays elite athletic ability, highlighted by a reported 4.5-second 40-yard dash, 35-inch vertical, and 10’9” broad jump. Despite being slightly undersized for his position, Bailey compensates with an outstanding short-area twitch and burst off the line. His playstyle blends explosiveness and fluidity, allowing him to slip through offensive linemen’s blocks and making him difficult to keep in front of. His lower-body flexion and leverage enable him to collapse the pocket once he gains even the slightest advantage, while his closing speed and ability to build momentum through the arc make him a constant threat off the edge. Though he can be stalled if blockers latch onto his frame, his elusiveness and lateral quickness help minimize those instances. Mentally, Bailey plays with toughness and urgency, consistently competing through the whistle. Although he must continue refining his play recognition and counter moves, teams can be confident in his ability to impact high-leverage downs, particularly in obvious passing situations. Overall, Bailey possesses the physical and mental traits of a top-tier edge prospect that should secure him as a top 10 draft pick.
Bailey is one of, if not the best, rushers in this year’s draft class. He wins immediately off the snap with an explosive first step and violent hands. His take-off consistently places offensive tackles at a disadvantage, and he widens his rush path early to create space at the corner. While he relies primarily on speed and acceleration rather than bull-rush force, he effectively converts speed into power as he builds momentum through the arc. His bend is a defining trait – he maintains excellent lower-body flexibility, dips his shoulders under contact, and flattens to the quarterback with balance and control. He must continue developing against inside counters and refine his rush plan when his initial move is stalled. However, his closing burst and finishing ability consistently give him the edge in one-on-one matchups, allowing him to collapse the pocket and generate sacks on any given play. Bailey grades as a strong tackler who wraps up cleanly, displaying good tracking ability when chasing down ball carriers in space. His overall play recognition is solid, demonstrating good backfield awareness, though he is still developing consistency when diagnosing complex schemes and misdirection. His ball skills are very good, highlighted by violent hands creating disruption in the pocket. If he can increase his takeaway production at the next level, it will definitely elevate his overall impact. Although he has limited coverage experience, his footwork and athleticism allow him to manage short-zone drops effectively. That being said, he should not be heavily relied upon as a consistent coverage defender, as his greatest value comes as an attacking edge rusher.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Bailey projects best in a 3-4 outside linebacker scheme, where he can consistently attack the outside shoulder of offensive tackles and win around the arc with speed and bend. Operating from a two-point stance would maximize his explosiveness off the line, while still allowing him to handle occasional short-zone responsibilities.
The Arizona Cardinals utilize a versatile 3-4 base defense that specializes in hybrid fronts and wide alignments. Their defensive structure would allow Bailey to attack from space, maximize his burst, and focus primarily on disrupting the pocket rather than anchoring against the run.
NFL Player Comparison: Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos)
Stylistically, Bailey’s game closely resembles that of Nik Bonitto. Both players win with elite burst, bend, and acceleration rather than brute force. They possess exceptional get-off, explode out of their stance, widening their rush track, then flattening out to attack the quarterback. Bonitto, who similarly stands at 6 ‘3, 240 pounds and ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 combine, offers a strong athletic and schematic comparison.
Projection: High End Starter with Pro Bowl upside
Wherever Bailey lands, he should make an immediate impact. With continued refinement in hand usage, counter development, and play recognition, he has the tools to become one of the league’s top edge rushers in the coming years.
Grade: 6.05 with curve (5.85 initial), projecting as a top 10 draft pick.
Bailey’s speed and athleticism jump off the tape, and it is encouraging to see those traits translate into his performance at the combine. His upside is extremely high, and if deployed correctly within an attacking defensive system, he has the potential to become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
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