Dallas ranked a dismal 28th in the NFL in pass-rush efficiency last year. Opposing quarterbacks sat in clean pockets and picked the secondary apart. Enter Bailey. The 6-foot-3, 251-pound defender doesn’t just bend the edge; he shatters the pocket. He tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks last season.
Watching Bailey at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, you could feel the tension in Lucas Oil Stadium when he dug his cleats in for the 40-yard dash. He exploded off the line, clocking a blistering 4.50 seconds. That raw speed, combined with his heavy hands, makes him a nightmare for left tackles. He isn’t a developmental project. He is a day-one wrecking crew.
“I’ve always played with a massive chip on my shoulder. From Stanford to Lubbock, my job is simple. I find the guy with the ball, and I put him in the dirt.”
— David Bailey, Texas Tech Edge Rusher
Bailey’s path to the top of the 2026 draft board wasn’t a straight line. He flashed high-end traits at Stanford but truly unleashed his power after transferring to Texas Tech in 2025. The cold West Texas wind seemed to harden his playing style. He transformed from a speed-rusher into a complete defensive weapon. He developed a devastating inside spin move that left Big 12 linemen grasping at air.
Jerry Jones operates in a perpetual win-now window. Giving up the No. 12 and No. 20 picks represents a massive gamble. But Washington just secured Love, a Doak Walker Award winner with 4.36 speed. If the Cowboys want to stop a dynamic offensive weapon like Love twice a year, they need a premier disruptor up front.
If Dallas pulls the trigger on this trade, it instantly changes the power dynamics of the NFC. A relentless pass rush masks secondary flaws and forces turnovers. If they stay put, they risk watching the elite edge defenders vanish before they are on the clock. Expect the Cowboys’ front office to hit the phones hard as we inch closer to draft night.
