David Bailey Understands the Art of Leverage

On paper, David Bailey logged 26 hurries and 7 sacks in 2024 while playing for Stanford, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Did he look like that on film?

Yes

He was all that and a bag of chips.

He had a habit of spending a lot of time in the pocket.

Since then, Bailey has transferred to Texas Tech, but that’s not the focus of this evaluation.

The focus of this evaluation is Bailey in 2024.

Why?

⎯ It’s important to analyze as much of a prospect’s “full body of work” as possible.

We need to look back so we can better look forward.

Heating up the pocket

It’s one thing for an edge rusher to have a few pass-rushing tools, but it’s another to know how to use them.

Bailey fits the description of the latter.

Consistently ⎯

He showed he knew how to set up offensive tackles for the kill.

He also did a masterful job targeting the offensive tackle’s outside shoulder at the point of attack.

It was like one of those old turnstiles.

Sometimes, he didn’t use a pass-rush move at all. He just old-fashioned bull rushed ’em and put ’em on skates. He even showed the ability to drive back offensive tackles with one hand, which created the needed separation to win the edge.

The amount of pressure Bailey generated was impressive, especially considering he played in the rotation. It didn’t seem like he played all that much. In some of these games, he was brought in primarily on 3rd down pass-rushing situations.

It felt more like a “sneak preview.”

Decent vs. run

PFF:

• 93.2 pass rush grade
• 59.3 run defense grade

I won’t go as far as saying Bailey is a pass-rush specialist. He turned in a “respectful” effort against the run. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible.

He made bone-jarring tackles when he was left unblocked.

But more than anything, Bailey ended up “around the pile” a lot.

Red Flag 🚩

Unfortunately, it can’t all be about disrupting the pocket and run defense.

Bailey had a significant issue in the NC State game that must be documented.

He stomped on a player’s head.

What?

Yeah.

He stomped on a player’s head.

Flagrant personal foul.

Disqualified from the game.

Not good.

NFL perspective

This video clip is not something we can just “move on from.”

No question, the name of the game at the next level is about passing the ball and stopping the pass. In 2024, 29 out of 32 teams passed the ball more than 50% of the time.

With that said, a pass rusher with Bailey’s demonstrated skill set is highly desirable. His tape at Stanford reminded me of James Pearce Jr. (Falcons’ 2025 first-round pick).

But…

We will need to keep a close eye on his conduct as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.

While it’s great to have mean, violent, and nasty defenders, there is a line.

The key going forward will be to determine if what he did against NC State is repeated.

If it becomes a pattern ⎯

#23 David Bailey (his jersey number at Stanford) 6-foot-3, 250 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Fall Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

C (Character Risk)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of October 16, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: TCU, CAL Poly, Syracuse, Notre Dame, SMU, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, Louisville, and San Jose State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic and disruptive pass rusher. Alpha vibe. Twitchy. Polished. Quick first step. Good short-area acceleration and long-range playing speed. Good hand usage. Forceful. Powerful. Can bend the edge. Authoritative strength. Draws double teams (I charted 20 in pass rushing situations). Showed spin, swim, head-fake, and rip moves. Can get under the tackle’s pad level and also win the edge that way. Noticeable stiffness when attempting quick adjustments, pass rushing, and when playing the run in space. Occasionally lets up a little.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Conduct?

2. Effort level?

3. Every down defender?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.