Reporter gives Jets’ David Bailey Rookie of the Year praise amid training camp

New York Jets rookie David Bailey will be under the microscope in the upcoming season. Many are interested in seeing whether he can live up to the hype of being the No. 2 pick.

So far, he has received rave reviews in training camp, including from Jets running back Will McDonald, who gushed about Bailey’s defensive instincts. The 22-year-old defensive end terrorized offenses during his stint at Texas Tech, earning him a nod as an Unanimous All-American.

While Bailey is not expected to be the Jets’ savior, he could play a big role, which could aid his chance of being named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

This early, New York Post’s Brian Costello is already high on Bailey, even comparing him to established players.

“Bailey’s the real deal. I think you guys have done this long enough with me now that I don’t throw praise around that easily, especially with rookies,” said Costello.

“There are some guys you see, and they’re different. The guy who I’ll always remember is Sheldon Richardson. You saw him, and he was different. Jamal Adams was different right away. Sauce (Gardner) and Garrett (Wilson) were different. There are guys who come in as rookies, and you see it, like, ‘Yeah, this guy.’ I put Bailey in that category.”

"Bailey's the real deal!"@Briancoz has high praise for the Jets rookie on Gang's All Here. pic.twitter.com/QqopGm1VHt

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 6, 2026

To recall, Gardner and Wilson were named Defensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year, respectively, with the Jets in 2022. Wilson is in his fifth year in New York, while Gardner is now with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bailey could make an immediate impact with his size, speed, and agility. While he will certainly commit early errors, the learning curve is high for the athletic greenhorn.

“If you were an alien dropped on the field, and you’re picking the best players, you’d pick him because he’s just explosive, he’s got a lot of moves, and he’s got more power than I thought,” added Costello.

The Jets will open their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 14.

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