The New York Jets had one of the strongest performances of any team in the 2026 NFL Draft. While they will probably find ways to shoot themselves in the foot (in true Jets fashion), the New England Patriots will have to take their bitter AFC East rivals seriously — especially their defense.
Aaron Glenn's unit will probably be better in 2026. Adding Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick will give the Jets a prime quarterback hunter who may start from Week 1.
The Jets already had a strong pass rusher in Will McDonald IV on their roster. Pairing him with the top pass rusher in the draft in Bailey should be a concern for Mike Vrabel's team.
Bailey's potential is so impressive that Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes he could be a Pro Bowl or even All-Pro candidate as a rookie.
"With attention on McDonald, who's logged 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons, Bailey should get one-on-one matchups and clear shots at quarterbacks if he beats his man and shows great bend on the edge," Moton wrote.
Jets rookie David Bailey might be ready to dominate right away
While some projections had the Jets going with Ohio State's Arvell Reese, Bailey was always their No. 1, and it's easy to understand why. Bailey is coming off posting 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his final season with the Red Raiders, and having a defensive-minded coach like Glenn helping with his development should make the transition to the pros much smoother.
The Patriots swept the Jets in the season series last year and surrendered only one sack in each game. That said, the Patriots gave up 3.3 sacks per game last season, tied for the sixth-most in the league, according to Team Rankings.
Both of those 2025 meetings were also after Quinnen Williams left for the Dallas Cowboys, and missing his ability to shut down the interior of the defensive line clearly took a toll on the Jets' defensive production.
Bailey is a physical player who's light on his feet. He doesn't rely solely on his strength, and his athleticism and smooth movements help him shake off double teams with ease when he's not trying to overpower his opposition. He has the potential to be a difference-maker from the jump.
The Jets averaged just 1.5 sacks per game last season, the second-worst in the league behind only the San Francisco 49ers (1.2). That's not going to be the case with Bailey on the field. With all eyes set on Will Campbell after a dreadful postseason, the Patriots will have to figure out how to neutralize the leading Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate twice a season.
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