TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25.

David Bailey

Position: Edge rusher

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/251 pounds

College: Texas Tech

If Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza gets drafted first overall as expected, who goes second? Bailey could be that person, thanks to playing a coveted position and having a strong college resume.

The 22-year-old Bailey made 52 tackles, 19½ tackles for loss and 14½ sacks in an All-American senior season at Texas Tech. The outside linebacker joined the Red Raiders after playing three years at Stanford, where he appeared in 33 games with 16 starts.

Quick to the quarterback, Bailey ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at the NFL Combine. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Bailey to a “slashing two guard” in basketball with “explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend and flow around blocks from multiple angles.”

His combination of college experience and on-field production make him a lower-risk option for teams holding a top five pick. He had seven sacks as a junior at Stanford and five as a sophomore.

The Texas Tech defense led all FBS teams with 32 takeaways last season. Bailey contributed three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Did you know?

Newly hired Steelers outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You served as Bailey’s position coach at Texas Tech.

Key stat

14½ — No pass rusher in Division I FBS had more sacks last season than Bailey, who tied Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker for the most.

On draft

Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank Bailey among players at his position and prospects overall:

Draft expert — Edge/Overall

Mel Kiper Jr. — second/fifth

Daniel Jeremiah — first/fourth

Todd McShay — second/sixth

Field Yates — first/third

Quotable

“You’ve seen him play. You’ve seen the production. It’s pretty easy to see how that translates (to the NFL), and I think that’s why there’s going to be teams that have him as the top guy.”

— NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah

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