Chiefs scouting report: Texas Tech Red Raiders DE David Bailey
The Kansas City Chiefs stayed true to their preferences when they selected Ashton Gillotte over more explosive pass rushers in the 2025 NFL draft. The front office might still be haunted by missing on Felix Anudike-Uzomah, but Kansas City needs to diversify its defensive end room. Fortunately, the 2026 NFL draft features several high-ranking, athletic sack artists.
David Bailey began his career at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech for the upcoming season. Draft analysts view him as one of the top edge rushers in the class. The Athletic's Dane Brugler recently ranked him in the top five for prospects at the position. The 2026 draft features several other explosive rushers, including Anto Saka, R Mason Thomas and Boubacar Traore, but Bailey is the best version of that archetype.
Bailey accelerates off the line of scrimmage with an explosive first step that generates some instantaneous wins. Offensive linemen struggle to match his speed up the arc. The phrase 'if he's even, he's leaving' usually refers to wide receivers beating cornerbacks, but it applies to Bailey's style of play too. Even if the offensive tackle keeps pace, Bailey's springy agility helps him work across the lineman's face and into the B-gap for a counterattack.
Bailey's loose frame bends low to the ground to dip under the offensive tackle's hands and flatten his rush angle to the quarterback. This is an element largely absent from Kansas City's current pass rush rotation, which focuses on defensive ends, like Gillotte and George Karlaftis, who build their rush plans around power.
Bailey's pass rush plan includes club-swims, rips, speed rushes around the corner or through the B-gap, swipe-rips and a developmental spin move. He lacks the bulk to consistently win with bull rushes but generates some push by converting speed to power. Bailey's pass rush arsenal is still incomplete, but his skill set complements Kansas City's current defensive end room.
Bailey isn't a high-level run defender, but his speed and range make him a threat to pursue screen plays or running backs downfield.
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