From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Purdue EDGE David Bailey.<\/p>\n
No. 31 David Bailey\/EDGE Texas Tech 6030, 247 Pounds (Fourth-Year Senior)
\nMeasurements<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
David Bailey
\n6030\/247
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
The Good<\/p>\n
\u2013 Highly explosive first step off the ball (often the first person to move on the defensive front)
\u2013 Effectively pressures the quarterback from both defensive sides
\u2013 Attacking mindset that consistently looks to strip the ball
\u2013 Looks to put his hands up and go for the pass deflection when he realizes that he is beat or the ball is coming out quickly
\u2013 Demonstrates relentless motor going full speed and never takes a play off
\u2013 Great sideline-to-sideline speed that allows him to close off plays with his backside pursuit
\u2013 Good in run defense when tasked with shooting and sliding through gaps using his lethal arm-over move
\u2013 Decisive in initial pass rush plan with well-developed arsenal of moves
\u2013 Poses a deadly spin move that is tight and controlled, exploiting blockers that over-set
\u2013 Shows an effective \u201cGhost\u201d move where he dips his shoulder beneath the tackle
\u2013 Shows that he can consistently win with rip or swim
\u2013 Displays shocking conversion of speed-to-power that stems from maintaining a low pad level during obvious passing situations
\u2013 Experienced in coverage as an off-ball linebacker from time at Stanford<\/p>\n
The Bad<\/p>\n
\u2013 Struggles in run defense when tasked with setting the edge or holding the gap against a head-on block
\u2013 Lacks \u201cstatic\u201d strength, which can cause him to be displaced by larger linemen
\u2013 Plays with a higher pad level when not in obvious passing situations
\u2013 Tends to \u201cdance\u201d with linemen against the run, causing him to lose gap integrity
\u2013 Struggles with countering and readjusting his pass rush plan when the initial move does not work
\u2013 Demonstrates stiffness in his lower body, where he struggles to bend the corner at sharper angles<\/p>\n
Stats<\/p>\n
\u2013 2025 Stats: 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 81 pressures
\u2013 Career Stats: 163 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 172 pressures
\u2013 Stanford Career (3 years): 111 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 91 pressures
\u2013 Played in 46 career games<\/p>\n
Injury History<\/p>\n
\u2013 Suffered arm injury in the season finale against West Virginia, but did not miss any time (2025) Background<\/p>\n \u2013 Born August 28th, 2003 (22 years old) Tape Breakdown<\/p>\n David Bailey, a star from the moment he stepped onto the field at Mater Dei, is an extraordinary athlete who generates enormous raw power through his speed. His explosiveness off the line of scrimmage opens a tackle\u2019s gate quicker than they anticipate, allowing Bailey to engage and catch them flat-footed. Below are a few examples of Bailey using his speed to push the pocket and create pressure.<\/p>\n Rather than relying primarily on his athleticism, he has developed a polished, diverse mix of moves that\u2019s uncommon for a college prospect.<\/p>\n Below is him using his spin move against Arizona State that freezes the left tackle despite being chipped by the tight end. His ability to maintain his balance and leverage keeps his speed from dropping throughout the movement.<\/p>\n His spin move is his most common approach, but he also has more moves in his repertoire. The go-to move in passing situations is often his \u201cGhost\u201d move, where he uses his speed around the edge to drop his shoulder beneath the tackle.<\/p>\n Although Bailey has great speed to turn the edge when performing his \u201cGhost\u201d move, the video above highlights the primary concern about him as a finesse rusher off the edge.<\/p>\n He can beat the tackle and force the quarterback to step up into the pocket, but he shows some stiffness in his lower body that limits his ability to \u201crun the hoop\u201d and finish plays such as this. Below is another example of him having to round his pursuit of the quarterback because of his flexibility issues.<\/p>\n The pass rush potential seen on film will be his calling card at the professional level and ultimately what gets him drafted high in the first round. However, there are flashes of playing well against the run as well. As a run defender, he is at his best when the play is designed to go opposite of him, as he possesses great closing speed to chase down ball carriers.<\/p>\n His best efforts were seen in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon, but he has showcased this athleticism since his days at Stanford.<\/p>\n What is most concerning about his play in the run game is his tendency to \u201cdance\u201d with linemen rather than attacking them. Instead of reading and reacting, he will stay engaged with a lineman without ever looking for the ball carrier or trying to avoid engaging with the lineman altogether.<\/p>\n Below is an example of Bailey never looking for the quarterback on a designed run, instead getting into a deadlock with the tight end.<\/p>\n His play in this department, specifically as a head-up run defender, is inconsistent. Still, he has an excellent stack-and-shed technique that provides a solid foundation for his development.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/p>\n Bailey is a well-developed pass-rushing weapon that will make an immediate impact on Day 1 at the professional level. He is a great athlete with exceptional speed and power off the edge. His athleticism doesn\u2019t hinder his efforts to master his pass-rush arsenal, either, as he has many at his disposal. There are concerns in his game, such as his inconsistency defending the run and his lack of a counter-pass-rush plan, but given his potential, it won\u2019t stop teams from wanting to add him to their defense.<\/p>\n The best chance for him to have success in the NFL would be to land with a team that deploys a 3-4 defense that would allow him to continue rushing from a standing position and better serve his initial quickness. Given his projected draft position, he is likely to start his career as an every-down contributor. Still, he is expected to initially struggle in defending the run as he transitions and would be better suited to be eased into his role as a situational rusher.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Suffered broken right wrist<\/a> during his senior year of high school, but played through it during the CIF Championship<\/p>\n
\u2013 Involved in an alleged assault of photographer Mark Rebilas<\/a> following a loss to Arizona State, but did not face any\u00a0 NCAA punishment
\u2013 Ejected from contest against NC State after a flagrant foul for stomping on a player\u2019s head<\/a>
\u2013 Was recognized as a unanimous All-American and first team All-Big 12 in 2025
\u2013 Named finalist for Lombardi Award (top lineman) and semifinalist for the Bednarik Award (top defensive player)
\u2013 Transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford after receiving over $3 million in NIL deals
\u2013 Ranked 43rd on Bruce Feldman\u2019s \u201cFreaks\u201d list for recording a bench of 405 pounds, squat of 550 pounds, and max speed of 22.16 mph
\u2013 Earned All-ACC Academic Team Honors in 2024
\u2013 Graduated from Stanford in under four years with a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society \u2013 enrolled in Graduate School
\u2013 Chose to enroll at Stanford over teams like Alabama, Oklahoma, and USC, primarily due to his family\u2019s and his own academic priority
\u2013 Consensus 4-star recruit coming out of Mater Dei High School, helping lead the school to an undefeated season and a state title as a senior
\u2013 In high school, tabbed the statewide Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after totaling 20.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks
\u2013 Teammates praised him for making them better<\/a> and calling him a \u201cfreak\u201d<\/a> on the field
\u2013 Coach Bruce Rollinson said Bailey was \u201cone of the best players they\u2019ve ever coached\u201d<\/a> at Mater Dei
\u2013 Earned Principal\u2019s Honor Roll in High School while maintaining a 4.3 GPA
\u2013 Split time at tight end during his freshman year in High School before committing full-time as an edge player
\u2013 Does not have any form of social media<\/p>\n