As a No. 2 overall pick, New York Jets edge rusher David Bailey understands the pressure facing him. The Texas Tech product was selected to turn around a defense that ranked last in pressure rate and 31st in sacks last season.

After leading the country in sacks and pressures, Bailey brings the kind of pass rush prowess that the Jets haven’t had since Jonathan Abraham terrified quarterbacks in the early 2000s.

More than that, though, as a top pick, Bailey needs to be a leader on a rebuilding team.

In the first year of the Aaron Glenn era, undisciplined play was a central issue for New York. It’s why, when speaking with SiriusXM radio, Bailey made it clear that his arrival shouldn’t be the only turning point for the team in 2026.

Bailey speaks out on Jets defense

Fans want to hear their top draft picks show they understand the struggles plaguing the team and are willing to do whatever it takes to fix them.

Bailey, in his short interview on Sirius XM, did exactly that.

The 22-year-old edge rusher from Orange, Calif., committed himself to doing whatever is necessary to help the Jets win, while acknowledging he can’t do it on his own.

“I’m going to do my part, but it’s not just one person,” Bailey said. “We need to work as a unit. One team with one common goal. Everybody from the players to the coaches to the fans. We all have to be on the same page.”

New York isn’t asking Bailey to go at it alone, either. The Jets spent over $60 million during the offseason on upgrades across all levels of the defense. All-Pros like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Demario Davis were brought in to stabilize the unit.

Other veterans, such as cornerback Nahshon Wright and defensive tackle David Onyemata, were also acquired to raise the floor of the Jets’ defense.

What the Jets really needed was a finishing touch to the offseason—a ceiling-raising player with the talent to quickly turn New York’s defensive unit from a solid group to one of the most feared in the NFL.

That’s where Bailey comes in. It’s why the Jets chose him over other edge rushers in the draft.

As rookie minicamp approaches next week, Bailey appears to be in the right mindset—not because he expects to be great right out of the gate, but because he knows what he can do right away for the team.

In the end, that’s all that matters before the games actually start.