FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The New York Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 in the NFL draft Thursday night.
The picks kicked off what should be a busy early stretch for New York, which has four selections in the first 44 spots in the draft. The Jets also have the first pick in the second round Friday night (No. 33) and No. 44.
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Bailey gives coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets a big-time pass-rushing presence for a defense that was among the NFL’s worst last season.
“I feel like this organization is trending in the right way,” Bailey said. “I’m just ready to work.”
Bailey is the highest-selected defensive player by the Jets in the NFL draft since the 1970 merger.
With Las Vegas long linked to quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall, the most suspense centered on what New York would do one pick later. In the last few weeks, Bailey and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese were most often linked to the Jets — and it was just a matter of which one they’d select, if they didn’t trade the pick.
General manager Darren Mougey stayed at No. 2 and took Bailey, who’ll be expected to help boost a pass rush that ranked 31st in the NFL with only 26 sacks. The crosstown-rival Giants drafted Reese with the fifth overall pick.
New York then addressed its offense 14 picks later, giving new quarterback Geno Smith a pass-catching tight end in Sadiq. It was largely assumed the Jets would go after a wide receiver in that spot — Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. and USC's Makai Lemon were still available. Instead, they went with Sadiq, who set a school record last season for tight ends with 51 receptions.
Bailey was a force last season for Texas Tech, tying for the FBS lead with 14 1/2 sacks. He also ranked second with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 14 games, including 13 starts.
With the Jets, Bailey will help replace edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who was traded to Tennessee for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat in February.
“That feeling, it's like no other,” Bailey said of getting sacks. “It's really what I be chasing. I have a lot of motivations for why I play the game. That's one of them. That feeling when you get a sack and the crowd is on your side, especially during a home game — but regardless, home or away — it's one of the best feelings. I take a lot of pride in that.”
After three seasons at Stanford, the 22-year-old Bailey transferred to Texas Tech and was an AP All-America pick, the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, the conference’s newcomer of the year and a finalist for the Lombardi Award as the country’s top lineman.
The Jets canceled their top-30 visit with Bailey last week, leading some to speculate that the team had waning interest. But Mougey said Tuesday at New York’s pre-draft news conference that wasn’t the case.
“In regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,” Mougey said. “We were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.”
Bailey will get his visit to the Jets' facility, after all. As New York's top draft pick.
“I had a great interaction with them at the combine,” Bailey said. “Obviously, they canceled the 30 visit, but other than that, man, I had a great FaceTime with Mougey and everybody.”
It’s the fourth time in franchise history that the Jets picked second overall and first since they took quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas (1990) and wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) were the others.
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Sadiq joins Jeremy Ruckert and Mason Taylor — the team's second-round pick last year — in the Jets' tight ends room.
Sadiq is considered a versatile tight end with terrific athleticism who should be able to help in both the passing and running games.
“I can create separation," Sadiq said. “But I can also go hit someone.”
He's the third-highest tight end taken by the Jets in NFL draft history, behind only Kyle Brady, who went ninth overall in 1995 and Johnny Mitchell, who was 15th overall in 1992.
Sadiq opened eyes at the NFL combine, running a 4.39 40-yard dash — a blazing speed for a tight end his size. He led FBS tight ends with eight touchdown catches last season, his first as a full-time starter for the Ducks.
“I play fast and I play hard," he said, "and that's two things I pride myself on.”
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