David Bailey is already giving Jets fans a reason to move on from the Arvell Reese debate.
The Texas Tech pass rusher, taken by New York with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, stood out on the second day of Jets training camp and looked every bit like a player who belongs in the mix right away. It was only one team session, and the pads still aren’t on, but Bailey made enough noise to turn heads.
Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News said Bailey would have had at least three sacks if this were a real game, and added that his speed has been "impressive." Zack Rosenblatt reported that Bailey beat Armand Membou with both a bull rush and speed to get into the backfield, and also made plays against the run.
That’s a strong showing for a rookie some Jets fans weren’t thrilled about drafting in the first place.
The pass rush, in general, has been the early story of camp. Even with Joseph Ossai on the PUP list, the group has flashed against two promising tackles in Membou and Olu Fashanu.
Kingsley Enagbare has also been making some noise. If that carries over once the pads come on, New York could have a much more dangerous front than expected.
Bailey entered the league with questions about his power as a pass rusher and his run defense, which helped fuel the skepticism around the pick. It’s still early, but he’s already showing that he can hold his own against high-end NFL athletes.
And if what he did in practice is even halfway close to what he brings during the season, the Jets’ pass rush should be in far better shape than the unit that finished 31st in sacks last year. Bailey, Enagbare, and Ossai are new additions who will join former first-round pick and designated pass rush specialist Will McDonald on a revamped defensive line.
Reese may still have a strong career with the Giants, but if the Jets were after pure pass-rush juice and a player who can rack up sacks, Bailey looked right at home in this setting. His experience and plug-and-play profile were part of the appeal, and a practice like this only makes Darren Mougey look better.
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Fashanus next step is less about surviving on the edge and more about bringing more force to the run game, where the Jets want to see his blocking translate into real movement. If the added mass helps him play with more power at the point of attack, it could make him a more complete tackle and give this offense a better chance to lean on him in the way it has been hoping to. [Read more 🡒]