FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) 鈥� The selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday night.
Bailey gives coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets a big-time pass-rushing presence for a defense that was among the NFL鈥檚 worst last season.
The pick kicks off what should be a busy early stretch for New York, which has four selections in the first 44 spots in the draft. The Jets also have the No. 16 overall selection along with the first pick in the second round Friday night (No. 33).
鈥淚 feel like this organization is trending in the right way,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just ready to work.鈥�
Bailey is the highest-selected defensive player by the Jets in the NFL draft since the 1970 merger.
With Las Vegas long linked to , the most suspense centered on what New York would do one pick later. In the last few weeks, Bailey and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese were most often linked to the Jets 鈥� and it was just a matter of which one they鈥檇 select, if they didn鈥檛 trade the pick.
General manager Darren Mougey stayed at No. 2 and took Bailey, who鈥檒l be expected to help boost a pass rush that ranked 31st in the NFL with only 26 sacks. The crosstown-rival with the fifth overall pick.
Bailey was a force last season for Texas Tech, tying for the FBS lead with 14 1/2 sacks. He also ranked second with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 14 games, including 13 starts.
With the Jets, Bailey will help replace edge rusher for defensive tackle T鈥橵ondre Sweat in February.
鈥淭hat feeling, it’s like no other,鈥� Bailey said of getting sacks. 鈥淚t’s really what I be chasing. I have a lot of motivations for why I play the game. That’s one of them. That feeling when you get a sack and the crowd is on your side, especially during a home game 鈥� but regardless, home or away 鈥� it’s one of the best feelings. I take a lot of pride in that.鈥�
After three seasons at Stanford, the 22-year-old Bailey transferred to Texas Tech and was an AP All-America pick, the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, the conference鈥檚 newcomer of the year and a finalist for the Lombardi Award as the country鈥檚 top lineman.
The Jets canceled their top-30 visit with Bailey last week, leading some to speculate that the team had waning interest. But at New York鈥檚 pre-draft news conference that wasn鈥檛 the case.
鈥淚n regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,鈥� Mougey said. 鈥淲e were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn鈥檛 look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.鈥�
Bailey will get his visit to the Jets’ facility, after all. As New York’s top draft pick.
鈥淚 had a great interaction with them at the combine,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淥bviously, they canceled the 30 visit, but other than that, man, I had a great FaceTime with Mougey and everybody.鈥�
It鈥檚 the fourth time in franchise history that the Jets picked second overall and first since they took quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas (1990) and wide receiver Johnny 鈥淟am鈥� Jones (1980) were the others.
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