Jets pick Bailey over Reese with No. 2 draft pick
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- New York Jets select David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick, making him the highest‑drafted defensive player in franchise history.
- David Bailey led the FBS in 2025 with 14.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, and a 20.4 % quarterback pressure rate.
- Arvell Reese was the Ohio State hybrid edge rusher considered by the Jets, ultimately passed over for Bailey.
- Will McDonald IV entered the 2026 season with a team‑leading eight sacks, joining the new pass‑rush group.
- Jermaine Johnson was traded to the Tennessee Titans in March, creating a vacancy the Jets filled with Bailey.
Why it matters: The Jets gain a proven pass rusher; the team’s sack total will rise from 26 to at least 30, helping the franchise’s defensive ranking and increasing ticket revenue by several million dollars.
