David Bailey
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Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
The Dallas Cowboys probably need some help — aka luck — when it comes to the 2026 NFL draft.
The kind of help the Cowboys need, with a pair of 1st round picks, is a player so good dropping to either of those spots (or both of them) that Jerry Jones & Co. don’t have to think about who to pick because that’s when they screw things up.
In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski released on Thursday, the Cowboys are projected to take the Texas Tech edge rusher at No. 12 overall — the 1st time Bailey has dropped out of the Top 5 or Top 10 in most mock drafts.
Free agency and a series of trades forcing Bailey out of the Top 10 would be absolute manna from heaven for the Cowboys, who had the NFL’s worst defense in 2025.
“Donovan Ezeiruaku provided a promising rookie campaign after being a second-round pick in 2025,” Sobleski wrote. “The Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary from the Packers this offseason. Now, add the class’ best pure pass-rusher in Texas Tech’s David Bailey to the rotation, and Dallas can really get after opposing quarterbacks.”
David Bailey Goes No. 2 Overall in ESPN Mock Draft
How good is Bailey? In ESPN’s post-free-agency mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. has Bailey going at No. 2 overall to the New York Jets. Even for mock drafts, a disparity of 10 picks between experts that high in the draft is a pretty wild swing.
“In my January mock draft, I had Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese here,” Kiper wrote. “In February, I went with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Now, it’s Bailey. These are all good options for a defense that could use a lot of help, but the Jets really need an instant impact edge rusher. They were 31st in sacks last season (26) and traded Jermaine Johnson, further thinning out the unit. They have to find foundational players off the edge. And Bailey is explosive and productive, posting 14.5 sacks (tied for first in the FBS), 71 pressures (second) and a 20.2% pressure rate (first) last season.”
NFL Scouting Combine Performance Helped Stock
Bailey’s 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds was tops among all interior defensive linemen and edge rushers at the combine.
“I though he kind of stumbled a bit at the start,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said. “I think he can run faster.”
Bailey, 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, led the FBS with 14.5 sacks in 2025 on the way to the Red Raiders playing in the College Football Playoff for the 1st time.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Bailey to 2-time NFL All-Pro edge rusher Nik Bonitto, who signed a 4-year, $106 million contract extension with the Denver Broncos before the 2025 season.
Bonitto was a 2nd round pick (No. 64 overall) by the Broncos out of Oklahoma in the 2022 NFL draft after he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds at the combine.
“Bailey is extremely hard for linemen to stay in front of,” Zierlein wrote. “He moves like a slashing two guard, blending explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend and flow around blocks from multiple angles. His leverage and lower-body flexion create game-over scenarios once he reaches pocket depth with even a minor lead … His sack production should carry over to the NFL as an odd-front rush linebacker with Pro Bowl upside.”