Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey isn’t sweating a canceled meeting with the New York Jets ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, held Thursday-Saturday in Pittsburgh.
The Jets raised eyebrows when they called off a top-30 visit with Bailey on April 16. (NFL teams can host up to 30 prospects before the draft to get to know them better.) Jets general manager Darren Mougey said not to read into it on Tuesday. Bailey echoed that sentiment during a Wednesday news conference.
David Bailey discusses canceled top-30 visit
Bailey mentioned he met with the Jets at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and has had other meetings with them throughout the predraft process. The pass-rusher believes they’ve gone well.
“They canceled my 30 visit, so I wasn’t able to get around the facility,” Bailey said (h/t SNY-TV in New York). “But I had a great interaction with them at the combine and, obviously, whatever FaceTime calls we’ve been having.”
Note: Bailey confused Mougey with Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort before answering the question. We’ll cut the highly touted prospect slack. The Cardinals are another team that may grab him if the Jets pass on him with pick No. 2. Some mocksters believe New York prefers Ohio State Buckeyes LB Arvell Reese (6-foot-4, 241 pounds).
Reese, however, will need to convert from off-ball LB to full-time edge-rusher. Bailey (6-foot-4, 251 pounds), meanwhile, looks ready to play that role on Day 1. In 2025, the LB tied for the FBS lead in sacks (14.5) and earned a first-team All-American nod. The Ohio State standout had 6.5 sacks last season.
“Bailey is a top-five pick,” wrote The Ringer’s Steve Muench in his scouting report. “He’s the most proven pass-rusher in this class.”
The Jets need more pro-ready players after going 3-14 and missing the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season in 2025. Bailey could certainly be one. New York should know that.
A canceled top-30 visit is notable, but it shouldn’t lead fans to conclude the Jets have taken him off their board. He likely remains in play for the AFC East squad.
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