David Bailey Emerges as Front-Runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year Honors

The curtain has risen on the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, offering an exciting glimpse into the contenders for the Defensive Rookie of the Year title.

With the second overall pick, the New York Jets selected David Bailey, an edge rusher from Texas Tech, who now stands as the frontrunner for the award with odds of +470.

Bailey brings an explosive presence to the Jets’ roster, equipped with the skills to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and enhance their defensive line. Last season, he led the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision with 14.5 sacks, amassing a total of 29 sacks throughout his college tenure.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, alongside General Manager Darren Mougey, believe Bailey is a perfect fit for their evolving defensive strategy as they transition to a 3-4 scheme. This change will see Bailey teaming up with Will McDonald IV to form a dynamic, speed-focused edge-rushing partnership.

Marking a milestone as the Jets’ highest-drafted defensive player ever, Bailey is poised to help turn the tide for a team eager to end a decade-long string of losing seasons and a 15-year playoff drought.

The Jets held the worst pressure rate in the NFL last year at 15.1 percent. 

The last time a top-three selection won the award was Will Anderson Jr. in 2023, who was selected No. 3 overall by the Texans in 2023.

Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who was selected by the Buccaneers with the 15th overall pick, is next on the board with 5/1 odds. 

The ACC Defensive Player of the Year sliding to Tampa Bay was one of the draft’s biggest surprises as he was widely viewed as one of the best edge-rushing talents of the draft class. He fits the Bucs’ blitz-heavy scheme neatly as a high-motor edge rusher who can destroy blocks and generate quick pressure.

The Giants’ fifth-overall pick in Arvell Reese falls next at 5/1. Reese was favored to be selected by the Jets at No. 2 overall, but when the Jets took Bailey, Giants GM Joe Schoen snagged the 2024 national champion to improve a pass rush that averaged 2.3 sacks last year. 

The Ohio State standout brings a versatile profile of speed, range and ability to rush, cover and chase. Reese gives the Giants a modern hybrid linebacker who can impact all phases and make their defense more dynamic and unpredictable.

He is projected to play inside linebacker alongside Tremaine Edmunds but will be moved around a flexible defense that already features pass rushers like Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. 

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, the Commanders’ 7th-overall pick, is available at +850. Styles, who was the oddsmakers’ frontrunner to land with the Giants, was a safety-turned-linebacker who finished his college career with 244 tackles, strong production in tackles for loss, sacks, and coverage impact. 

At the combine, Styles validated his hype with historic testing numbers: a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 244 pounds, one of the highest athletic scores ever recorded for a linebacker. He projects to be an all-purpose linebacker for Washington who can cover ground sideline-to-sideline and blitz effectively. 

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.