The New York Jets kicked off their 2026 NFL Draft with a bang by taking Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey off the board with the No. 2 overall pick.
The Jets were reportedly deciding between Bailey and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese in the end. By going with the Bailey, the Jets took the player that rumor suggested the team was more interested in.
With the way that first decision fell for the Jets, reaction across the football world was certainly more on the positive side of the ledger.
Here is a national media reaction roundup to the Jets pick of Bailey at No. 2 overall:
David Bailey > Arvell Reese? 👀 pic.twitter.com/y1BWtAkYZH
David Bailey is heading to the Jets and @BarstoolGruden loves the pick@reeses pic.twitter.com/yZoEiyycu6
The Jets select David Bailey second overall ✈️ pic.twitter.com/QJ3Ty0zK0F
Give me David Bailey over Arvell Reese. PROVEN pass rusher. Only target worth trading up for, for the Cowboys - and now he's a Jet.
Welcome to the Jets, David Bailey!(🎥: @snyjets) pic.twitter.com/l3G1rUgy9J
"If David Bailey gets his hands on you, IT'S OVER!! I LOVE THIS PICK FOR THE JETS"– @EmmanuelAcho responds to David Bailey going 2nd overall to the New York JetsWE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW ⬇️ https://t.co/VgPAc0vVAR pic.twitter.com/wQLd9W1JVw
It’ll be fun to track for years to come to track the better player between David Bailey (Jets No.2 pick) and Arvell Reese (Giants No.5 pick) as the 2 play in the same stadium.
David Bailey had 14.5 sacks with Texas Tech last season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/n8wJsWv0I0
Jets select David Bailey with second overall pick. https://t.co/ZsK0erTi9e
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 24, 2026
2ND OVERALL PICK IS IN: Jets are selecting Texas Tech LB David Bailey 🤯Big 12 D-Lineman of the year is heading to the Big Apple 🍎 pic.twitter.com/JpcD2Ft1Dt
The #Jets have made, rather than traded, the pick. They take Texas Tech DE David Bailey at No. 2.
The Jets select Texas Tech edge David Bailey at No. 2 overall -- the pick widely expected within the league comes to fruition.And now, things get interesting ...
.@FourVerts and @Nate_Tice second-guess the Jets' decision to draft David Bailey over Arvell Reese 👀 (via Yahoo Sports Draft Live) pic.twitter.com/1pimkc8nCn
#Jets chose Bailey over Reese.They then chose Sadiq over Lemon and Boston.Think fans will have a right to question the process tonight. However, there’s clearly a plan that this team has.Time will tell if the plan is right.
— Nick “Mike Farrell” Faria (@Nick_Faria1720) April 24, 2026