Position: EDGE Rusher
Height: 6’3
Weight: 250
Stats: 2025 (11 games) – 34 tackles, 16 TFL, 12.5 sacks, PBU, 2 FF, 71 pressures, 22 QB hits, 23% win rate
Class/Age: Senior, 21
Team: Texas Tech
Positives:
First, yes I know Tyree Wilson came from Texas Tech so please don’t get up in arms about another TTU pass rusher. Bailey is a freak human being, his 6’3 height might be undersized for the position in the NFL but Bailey has long arms, a strong lower half, and is a lightning quick pass rusher. Bailey displays an electric first step quickness that he’s able to translate into power with an exceptional speed to power conversion. Bailey has posted a 405 bench, 575 squat, and 4.47 40 (22.16 mph) this off-season. Bailey does a phenomenal job bending the EDGE and utilizing his short area quickness to get around the EDGE and collapse the pocket. Bailey’s hip and ankle flexibility allows him to quickly change direction and bend while utilizing momentum and speed to work laterally or horizontally. Bailey has the ability to plant his arm into the tackles chest and win with strength as well as his bend. The senior pass rusher has violent strong hands at the POA with a good bag of traits including a swipe, chop, club, rip, and swim that allow him to get through the tackle paired with his athletic traits and he’s demonstrated a plethora of secondary moves as well. Bailey has an elite motor and consistent nature to defend the run utilizing his lower body to anchor at the POA and drive the offensive line into the rushing lane while utilizing his frame to make plays at the LOS. Bailey is a wanting run defender with a knack for making plays on the ball carrier coming across from the backside or collapsing the rushing lane before the ball carrier has a chance with his blend of speed and power. Bailey tackles well and latches on without letting go, he’s shown a relentless ability to get to the QB on the round and continues to go downfield to make a play on the ball as well. Bailey has the ability to drop into coverage with good feel and ability in space due to his time at Stanford along with his lower body athleticism. Bailey has versatility playing in space, 7/9 techs, along with some time at 5 tech as well in both 3-4, 4-3, and 3-3 schemes. Bailey shows a special ability to create turnovers with 9 career forced fumbles utilizing his length and speed to quickly collapse the pocket and lodge the ball loose in pass rush situations while also demonstrating good punch ability on runners.
Weakness:
Bailey’s biggest knocks come from his consistency in minor traits including a refinement needed to peak and stack in the run game which will be developed in the NFL under good coaching. Bailey can be too aggressive at times and over pursue his rushing lanes which can cause a backside cut for running backs though he’ll learn with time to adjust and maintain his position more frequently. Bailey does a have a tendency to get defeated in the run game by double team blocks that cause him to get out of leverage when he’s not able to gain leverage first. Bailey will need to likely add a little more weight in order to maintain his strength in the NFL against stronger offensive lineman. Bailey is athletic enough to take down ball carriers in college football when he misses a gap but that is a questionable trait if it will translate to the NFL. At just 6’3 Bailey is slightly undersized for the position, though he doesn’t get flushed out by larger tackles largely in part to his strength in the lower body. Bailey will need to consistently covert speed to power more often and mix in more traditional power rush approaches to keep tackles guessing in the NFL. His run defense while the willingness is present will need to be fixed in the NFL and that could cause him some issues in his draft stock. There was also a situation with Bailey getting into a scuffle with a reporter which will need to be monitored.
Grade: 1.41- Early/Mid 1st Round
Pro-Comp: Byron Young (LAR)
Bailey is going to go early in round 1, he’s a phenomenal athlete and tremendous pass rusher who has glimpses of being an electric run defender when he’s developed a more refined and consistent skillset. Bailey shows a special ability to generate bend and twitch as a pass rusher with a strong lower body that allows him to rely on more than just athletic traits and technique. He’s a versatile pass rusher with true ability to cover in zone and some one on one situations while also being versatile among the defensive line and maintaining his elite play style. A highly productive player, Bailey has a career 145 tackles, 38.5 TFL, 27 sacks, 9 FF, 162 pressures, 76 stops, 58 QB Hits, and a 25.2% win rate. Bailey is a special pass rush prospect that will generate instant impact at the NFL level. The Raiders have lacked a true pass rusher across from Maxx Crosby outside of one season from Malcolm Koonce, who’s slowly returning to form after a torn ACL and Bailey would give them a tremendous pass rush duo.
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