Could Washington’s next elite pass rusher already be in sight?
The Washington Commanders’ 2025 sack total looks respectable at first glance. They finished with 42 sacks—middle of the league—led by veteran Von Miller’s nine. But dig deeper, and the cracks show quickly.
Washington ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate and finished dead last in quarterback hurries, despite frequent blitzing. Injuries didn’t help. Dorance Armstrong Jr. was on pace for a career year before going down, and the losses of Deatrich Wise Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste thinned an already fragile edge group. Outside of Armstrong, there’s little long-term confidence at the position.
Fixing the pass rush will be near the top of Adam Peters’ offseason agenda, and the 2026 NFL Draft offers real answers. If Washington holds onto the No. 7 overall pick, they’ll have access to one of the class’s premier edge defenders—Texas Tech standout David Bailey.
Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey — Scouting Report
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 250 lbs
Projected 40: 4.52
Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, top-10 LB nationally
College Production:
- 46 games
- 163 tackles
- 42 tackles for loss
- 29 sacks
- 10 forced fumbles
Why Bailey Fits What Washington Needs
Bailey is a rare blend of speed, burst, and versatility. His first step is explosive, allowing him to win consistently around the edge, but he’s far from a one-trick rusher. He flashes a developing bull rush, an effective spin move, and the awareness to counter inside when tackles overset.
His speed shows up everywhere. Bailey regularly chases down plays from the backside, piling up tackles for loss (19.5 in 2025 alone). That same athleticism allows him to drop into coverage without becoming a liability—an added bonus for creative defensive coordinators.
Texas Tech used him all over the front seven. He lined up primarily wide on the right edge but flipped sides with ease, occasionally sliding inside to attack the B-gap or dropping into shallow zones. While he’ll live on the edge in the NFL, that flexibility speaks to his football IQ and overall athletic ceiling.
Areas for Improvement
Bailey’s biggest question mark is mass. At 250 pounds, he looks leaner than his listed size and may struggle to consistently anchor against 320-pound NFL tackles. He’s a capable run defender, but he’s far more effective chasing from the backside than setting a firm edge at the point of attack.
He also relied heavily on speed in college. That won’t be enough at the next level. Bailey has shown flashes of advanced pass-rush moves, but refining his hand usage and counters will be critical early in his NFL career.
NFL Comparison: Abdul Carter (Giants)
Like Abdul Carter—who went first among edge defenders in the 2025 draft—Bailey was often unblockable in college. Carter needed time to adjust to NFL size and technique, and Bailey may face a similar learning curve.
If Bailey can add strength without sacrificing burst, his upside climbs even higher. In a best-case scenario, his game could eventually resemble a Micah Parsons–to–Khalil Mack–style evolution: a hybrid athlete who becomes a dominant full-time edge weapon.
Draft Projection
Grade: Top-10 Pick
Bailey has the production, athleticism, and leadership traits teams covet. A Stanford graduate who finished his degree early before transferring to Texas Tech, he’s known as a relentless worker and tone-setter.
Frame concerns may push some teams toward bigger-bodied edge defenders, especially in 4–3 schemes. But in a 3–4 front—or any defense that values speed and disruption—David Bailey profiles as a high-upside pass rusher who can transform a defense.
For the Commanders, that might be exactly what the 2026 draft is all about.
