David Bailey — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

The Titans provide All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons immediate help. Robert Saleh would have a nice foundation to work with up front on defense.

The Titans were open to trading down and adding to their arsenal of picks but will gladly take Dane Brugler's No. 6 prospect while addressing their most glaring need — and supplying new coach Robert Saleh's defense with a player who should fit well. Bailey is a pass rusher who "showed clear improvements as a run defender in 2025," Brugler said, with more work needed. But Jeffery Simmons needs help on the outside, and last year's second-round pick, Femi Oladejo, is a glaring question mark. Rueben Bain Jr., Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Spencer Fano were other considerations here.

David Bailey is just so damn fast off the snap. His first step overwhelmed a lot of his competition at the college level, and while life will be more difficult at the next level -- meaning he'll need to develop more technique -- Bailey will improve your pass rush. Will he help stop the run? I'm not as confident there.

The Jets have their pick of the draft's finest edge rushers here. Bailey's combination of explosiveness and production is the best of the bunch.

The Titans could easily go wide receiver with this pick to further support quarterback Cam Ward, but Bailey addresses another roster hole that new head coach Robert Saleh would surely be thrilled to tackle. Bailey led the FBS in sacks (14.5) during his lone season at Texas Tech after three seasons at Stanford. A number of those sacks came from his lightning-fast first step -- the best of any collegiate rusher. And he has the instincts to get his hands up in passing lanes.

This one is a pretty easy pairing. The Commanders are starved for edge rushers, especially ones who can win one-on-one and get after the quarterback. That's exactly what Bailey brings to the table. He's a dynamo off the edge and brings the heat play after play. Bailey's lack of size can give him issues against the run, but he improved in that area during his lone season in Lubbock. He'll immediately inject some juice into a front that needs it under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.

Cincinnati would be ecstatic if the draft played out this way. If the Bengals saw Bailey on the board here, they'd jump right up and make this pick. It sounds like edge rusher Trey Hendrickson might move on in free agency this offseason, but the Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league again this past season. So, they need defensive help, regardless.