David Bailey has officially become the draft crush the Chiefs can’t ignore

I am a man of the suburbs. I have two young children, and at some point, it was time to stop fighting the inevitable. We had to break down and get a “mom car.” It’s great, with its foldable third row, perfect for strollers and a load of groceries. I know this car is best for my family, my budget, and our future, but that doesn’t change one thing. When I’m in the parking lot of a nice restaurant, and I see a bright red Corvette, I stop and admire it for a second. Sure, there’s no room for strollers or car seats, not much trunk space for diapers, and it’s even hard to get in and out of. But at the end of the day, she sure looks nice in that pretty red dress.

The Chiefs have been buying mom cars for years at the edge position. They’re practical, can play all three downs, and have a high floor. But it’s time to do more than just admire that red Corvette. It’s time to take her home. David Bailey has been my favorite prospect in this draft class because he leads the class in tape moments that just make me chuckle and laugh. It’s so easy to get caught up in thresholds, scheme, and measurements, but at the end of the day, when I watch David Bailey get into the backfield in two seconds, I feel something I haven’t felt since Justin Houston.

With what the Chiefs have in George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, and Chris Jones, they have the infrastructure for this type of player. Karlaftis is an every-down player, and Gillotte has shown the ability to play on early downs. Bailey isn’t unplayable against the run, and he’s been much better this year at Texas Tech. Bailey can do something no Chiefs pass rusher can do, and that’s apply quick pressure.

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NFL Draft Profile: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Age: 22 (on draft day)

Height: 6-3

Weight: 250 LBS.

Tape Exposure: Arizona State (2025), Oregon (2025), NC State (2024)

Shades of: Brian Burns

David Bailey Background

David Bailey attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He was a four-star recruit via 247 and the No. 3 edge in the 2021 class. After receiving numerous offers, he committed to Stanford in 2021. Bailey started as a true freshman and played 32 games for the Cardinal, logging 22.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. He played a mix of on- and off-ball roles as well. In 2024, he entered the portal as the 12th overall transfer prospect. In his single season at Texas Tech, he logged 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, both best in the Big 12. In 2025, Bailey was ranked 43rd on the prestigious Feldman’s Freaks List for his 405-lb. bench press, 550-lb. squat, and a GPS-tracked speed of 22.16 mph.

Why David Bailey is the best pass rusher in the draft

Explosiveness

Watching David Bailey come off the line of scrimmage is like watching highlights from Shark Week. Violence, speed, torque, and burst—it’s like those videos of great white sharks jumping out of the water to eat seals. In all seriousness, his first step is incredibly fast. He has power and push, pursues really well in the open field, and is capable in coverage.

Pass Rush Tools

Bailey is much more than just speed and bend around the arc. He displays a large variety of pass-rush tools and uses them effectively in a cohesive plan. He uses dips, rips, swims, spins, ghost, and long-arm techniques to consistently beat not just tackles, but guards and tight ends. He also has a nice motor, with some very high-effort snaps on tape.

Athleticism

He’s a special athlete with versatility in where he can align and what he can do. He can act as a spy on the quarterback, cover the flat, mug gaps like an off-ball linebacker, and, of course, rush the passer. His frame is more dense than the listed 250 lbs., and he is excellent at reading rush lanes to knife through and make tackles.

Is David Bailey worth changing the Chiefs' thresholds over?

Run Defense

Bailey is an average run defender for his size. There are certainly worse edge rushers starting in the NFL at defending the run than he is. With that being said, it’s not a strength. There is little resistance to double teams, and tight ends and fullbacks can wash him out of a run play as well. He’s also not the most reliable when it comes to gap integrity.

Frame

Bailey was listed at 238 lbs. while playing at Stanford and is now listed at 250 lbs. at Texas Tech. Felix Anudike-Uzomah was 255 lbs. at the combine, and the Chiefs still drafted him. Playing weight is the question. If Bailey truly plays at 250 lbs., the Chiefs might not be scared off, but 238 lbs. is awfully light for a 4-3 defensive end.

Why David Bailey is worth the risk for the Chiefs

Bailey led all of FBS with 81 total pressures, 15 sacks, and 23 quarterback hits. At the end of the day, this guy knows how to rush the passer, and he does so at a high level. There are players built like him who succeed in the NFL. Spags can have all the functional mom cars he needs, draft plenty of heavy-handed, long edge rushers, and maybe even invest in a real run-stuffing defensive tackle while he’s at it. But when the time is right, it’s time to take that red Corvette out of the garage and let it do what it does best.

David Bailey possesses the traits of a Pro Bowl or All-Pro caliber pass rusher. He is explosive, with speed, functional bend, a wide array of pass-rush tools, and special athleticism. His ceiling is as high as any player in the class. His floor will be determined by his strength at the point of attack and his run defense.

Round Grade: Blue Chip (Top 10 pick)