David Bailey’s Journey with the Jets
David Bailey faced a notable hurdle during the pre-draft process. Sure, he excels as a pass rusher, but there’s this concern over his run defense—something that, well, raised some eyebrows.
However, Jets coach Aaron Glenn isn’t entirely convinced by that critique. “I didn’t see any issues with his run defense when he came out of college,” Glenn shared on Friday about the Jets’ second overall draft pick. “Everyone seems to be picking apart every player as they come in. But I thought he was pretty solid. You’ve seen him handle pulling guards and tackles, really playing well against those positions. His run defense? I think it’s just fine.”
On Friday, Bailey hit the field at Forum Park for his debut as Jets rookie minicamp kicked off.
The practice was fairly relaxed—players wore shorts and only helmets, so actual tackles or blocks would be hard to spot.
Glenn expressed that he wants to observe how players absorb coaching and implement what they’ve learned. That shouldn’t be an issue for Bailey, who earned his degree from Stanford in just three years.
“He’s obviously very smart,” Glenn noted. “So we weren’t worried about that. It was more about how he interacts with the coaches and communicates with teammates. And once he was out there? You could definitely see the first-step speed we expected. I think he’s going to be an exciting player to coach.”
As for Bailey, he’s focused on improving every aspect of his game, not solely on run defense.
“There’s always room for improvement, whether it’s pass rushing or stopping the run,” Bailey said. “I believe in my ability to make plays against the run. I trust Coach Glenn’s strategies for me. He’s really going to position me to grow. I’m confident, and I can’t wait for it.”
Last season at Texas Tech, he topped the nation with 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
He also forced 10 fumbles throughout his college career, which Glenn highlighted as a key reason the Jets pursued Bailey.
Glenn mentioned that the Jets have a clear plan for how they intend to utilize Bailey. “In our base defense, he’ll play as one of the outside linebackers. And when we shift to a four-down approach, he’ll move to defensive end. We have a lot of versatility on our roster, and I’m excited about our plans for him. As we further evaluate each player, we’ll find the best spots for everyone to thrive defensively.”
Glenn also indicated that Bailey might share the field with first-round pick Will McDonald.
They seem to have a similar playing style, according to Glenn. “They both have that quick first step and the ability to finish strong against opponents. Will improved last year with his longer reach and power moves, and we want to keep building on that. Bailey shares those strengths, so I can see why some people might compare them.”
Bailey proudly wears No. 31, which happens to be the same number Glenn wore as a Jets player.
Bailey mentioned that Glenn brought it up and even showed him an old photo of himself in uniform.
Interestingly, Bailey isn’t focused on hitting specific stats in his rookie year.
“I don’t really think about particular accolades or goals,” he stated. “The main objective for me is establishing a consistent routine so that each day, I can improve as a player, both in rushing and defending.”
