When the New York Jets canceled their top-30 visit with potential No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, it sent shockwaves throughout the New York sports world.
The Texas Tech product had just emerged as the betting favorite to be selected second overall by the Jets in the 2026 NFL draft. Suddenly, New York apparently didn’t feel the need to visit with him.
So, what gives? Why did the Jets cancel their visit with the electric pass rusher?
New York general manager Darren Mougey confronted the topic on Tuesday morning during a pre-draft press conference with the media.
“With Top 30s, every team uses them differently. Some don’t even use them. When we do them, every single player and case is different … in regards to David, we had good touchpoints with him at the combine and his pro day,” said Mougey.
“I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation.”
When pressed, Mougey also admitted that some NFL teams purely use top 30 visits to create a smokescreen.
There are two schools of thought as to New York’s decision to cancel the visit with Bailey. Clearly, the team felt it had enough information on the prospect and did not deem it necessary to meet with him. But what decision had they settled on?
Did they decide that Bailey had proven enough to be tabbed as the No. 2 pick? Or had they already decided to go in a different direction?
Since the canceled visit, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese has regained steam as the consensus favorite to be chosen by the Jets with the second overall pick.
Only two days remain until the Jets announce their final decision in Pittsburgh.
