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Todd McShay

Find the most comprehensive analysis on [Player Name], featuring Todd McShay’s evaluations. Official measurables, advanced analytics, and a scout’s eye provide the most in-depth breakdown of a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses, NFL draft projection, and potential at the next level.

Edge

David Bailey

Grade93 /100
Pos Rank2
OVR Rank6
School
TTU

Experience

Played47
Started29

POSITION STATS LAST SEASON

Sacks
14.5
TFL
19.5
Tackles
51
FF
3
PBU
3
Todd McShay

Position-Specific Grades

COMBINE RESULTS

Height
6' 3 5/8"
Weight
251lbs
Todd McShay
ARM
33 3/4"
Todd McShay
HAND
10 1/4"
40-Yard Dash
4.5sec
Todd McShay
10-Yard Split
1.62sec
Vertical
35
Broad Jump
10' 9"

The Takeaway

The Player

Bailey is a shorter-than-ideal and linearly built edge rusher with outstanding length, elite athletic traits, and an advanced set of pass rush tools. In 2025, he racked up a remarkable 19.5 TFL, 14.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles (all on strip sacks). His tape got better as the season progressed. 

Bailey has special movement skills, with elite speed (confirmed by a 4.5 40 at the combine), takeoff burst (1.62-second 10-yard split), and almost no wasted motion. He mixes up his pass rush moves effectively with a devastating spin move. He has good snap in his hands and long arms to keep blockers off his pads as well as explosive speed and strong closing burst while in pursuit. What’s really special is his ability to adjust while bearing down on a moving target. He’s the only edge rusher in the 2026 class ranked in the top two in both pass rush win rate (21.6 percent) and run stop rate (9 percent). 

He can be a high-impact run defender. When he fires out with intention and locates the ball on time, he does a nice job of disengaging quickly and pursuing. However, there’s no denying his lean lower body and linear frame. His ball location can be spotty, and he sometimes comes out of his stance too high and gets caught with his eyes in the backfield, causing him to lose lane integrity as a pass rusher and contain versus the run. 

The Draft

Bailey is a top-five pick. He’s the most proven pass rusher in this class. For context, his pressure rate during his final three college seasons (22.1 percent) was better than Abdul Carter’s (21.7 percent), Jared Verse’s (18.3 percent), and Will Anderson’s (18 percent). 

The Projection

Make no mistake: Bailey is lean, and he can get pushed around too easily in the run game at times. However, he’s an elite pass rusher. The best in this class. He has the length (33 3/4–inch arms and 79 3/4–inch wingspan), instincts, snap in his hands, and elite closing burst to immediately make an impact rushing the quarterback. Look at what Abdul Carter did late in his rookie season (3.5 sacks in his final four games). And at what James Pearce (10.5 sacks) and Jalon Walker (5.5 sacks) did as rookies.  They were all undersized but incredibly athletic pass rushers who produced in year one. Bailey is capable of similar output or better in 2026—and will continue to develop the rest of his game in year two and beyond.