2026 NFL Draft: Jets rewrite history by picking David Bailey at No. 2

The secret everyone thought they knew has finally been confirmed. The New York Jets have selected David Bailey with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

It may not qualify as a stunning development, but it does represent something noteworthy for a franchise that doesn’t often operate this way. This isn’t just another high pick. It’s history.

David Bailey is the first player taken second overall by the Jets in the modern draft era.

This marks the fifth time the Jets have selected second overall, and for the first time, they’ve used that pick on a defensive player. That alone makes this selection significant. For decades, when New York has found itself in this position, the instinct has been to lean offense.

A quick look back tells the story: In 1980, it was Lam Jones 1980), Blair Thomas (1990), Keyshawn Johnson (1996), and Zach Wilson (2021).

All are obviously offensive players. All are tasked with changing the franchise's trajectory. This time, the Jets flipped the script.

Instead of chasing offense, they’ve invested in a player who can disrupt it. Bailey enters the league as one of the most highly regarded edge prospects in recent memory, bringing explosiveness, physicality, and a relentless motor to a defense that needed a tone-setter.

Here’s where the conversation gets interesting. Though he hasn’t played a single down in the NFL, it’s not difficult to imagine a scenario where Bailey becomes the best of this group.

That may sound bold, but it speaks more to his ceiling than it does to the past. This pick isn’t just about breaking a trend. It’s about establishing a new one. If Bailey develops the way many expect, the Jets won’t just have made history. They may have finally gotten it right.

Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL Draft.