Aaron Glenn’s defensive makeover in New York may be helping the Jets overall, but it hasn’t done David Bailey many favors.
The rookie pass rusher and No. 2 overall pick has gone quiet over the last two games against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, turning in almost no pass-rush production after a strong start to the season. A handful of explanations are already floating around for the dip: Bailey’s lack of bend, his still-developing pass-rush toolbox, and the simple fact that nobody else on the defensive line is forcing offenses to account for much pressure.
But the biggest issue might be the one getting the least attention - the fit.
Bailey spent his college days at Texas Tech as a hand-in-the-dirt edge rusher in a 4-2-5 scheme. In New York, he’s being asked to adjust to a 3-4 outside linebacker hybrid role, and the results have been uneven.
He’s dropping into coverage in ways he never really had to before and rushing from a stance that doesn’t come naturally yet. That’s a tough assignment on its own, and it gets even tougher when you’re also trying to handle NFL power and speed on a defensive line that has underwhelmed as a group.
Glenn’s background makes the shift even more interesting. He leaned on four defensive linemen almost exclusively in Detroit, but after a rough first year with the Jets, he overhauled the defense and moved to a 3-4 attack. The change has improved the defense compared with last season, but the line itself still hasn’t delivered enough.
There’s also a case to be made that Bailey might have been better suited to a Robert Saleh-style setup, where he could line up wide, put his hand in the dirt, and attack the edge with speed. Right now, he looks like a player learning a new position while also learning how to beat NFL athletes.
That’s why a shift back toward more four-man fronts could make sense. Glenn may need to loosen up the structure and use more 4-3 looks, even if that means playing T’Vondre Sweat somewhere other than true nose tackle. Bailey has actually held up against the run better than expected, which at least leaves open the possibility that he can survive as a down lineman at this level.
The bigger roster issue is that the Jets may have prioritized raising the floor over building a cleaner fit. The result, at least as described here, is a defense full of run-stuffing tackles who don’t bring much pass rush, edge players who lean speed-first without much physicality, and no hybrid linebacker to match the alignment’s demands.
Bailey’s career is obviously nowhere near settled after one month, and Kingsley Enagbare has been the best pass rusher on the team aside from him. Still, the combination of Bailey’s adjustment period and the staff’s failure to put him in the best possible spot is creating some painful consequences.
In Other News...
Jets May Finally Get WR Help But One Question Still Looms
The Jets receiver room may be getting a little healthier soon, which comes as welcome news for an offense that has had to navigate injuries to key pass-catchers. Tim Patrick has now completed the required four-game absence and is eligible to return to practice, giving the team at least a chance to add some experienced help back into the mix after a stretch of uncertainty.
Omar Cooper Jr. is still a longer wait, since he remains on injured reserve and has to sit out at least one more game before his practice window can open. So while the roster picture is beginning to brighten at receiver, the bigger question for the Jets is how quickly that help can actually show up on the field, and whether Patrick will be ready to contribute right away once he ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Opponent Suddenly Has A Quarterback Issue To Sort Out
The Browns have opened the clock on a pair of injured-reserve returns, designating quarterback Dillon Gabriel and defensive tackle Kalia Davis to come back to practice. Cleveland now has 21 days to decide whether either player gets activated to the active roster, a timeline that adds another layer to a quarterback room already worth watching from afar.
Gabriels return is the more interesting subplot for Jets watchers because it forces Cleveland to sort out where he fits behind Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders. Even before the Browns make a decision, the move hints at more quarterback evaluation work ahead, and any shuffle there is the kind of thing opponents keep an eye on as they prepare for a game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Just Got An Uncomfortable New QB Option
The Jets quarterback picture already has a few moving parts, and now another one has been dropped into the mix. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently floated New York as a possible trade destination for San Francisco backup Mac Jones, putting a concrete price on the idea with a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
Jones has already bounced from the Patriots to the Jaguars to the 49ers, and he is currently sitting behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco. For the Jets, it is another reminder that the search for insulation behind Geno Smith is not necessarily finished, even with rookie Cade Klubnik in the building after being drafted in 2026 and getting preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]