Like any self-aware general manager, Jerry Jones has left all options on the table ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. In short, the Dallas Cowboys are open for business, willing to move up from the No. 12 overall pick if the right opportunity presents itself.
A mock draft from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic added fuel to that idea, projecting Dallas to strike a blockbuster trade with the Arizona Cardinals for Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. Longtime draft expert Todd McShay echoed the buzz, reporting he’s heard the Cowboys would like to move up for Bailey.
Naturally, Cowboys fans are now dreaming big with draft night exactly two weeks away. However, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler flagged a pair of red flags with Bailey that could give Dallas second thoughts about mortgaging its draft for the former Red Raider (h/t The Beast).
Per Brugler, Bailey was "allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a photographer after Arizona State game in 2025 (photographer filed a police report, but no charges were filed against Bailey)."
In addition, Brugler has consulted NFL scouts who say they want "more consistent energy levels" from Bailey behind the scenes.
David Bailey would be a great addition, but the Dallas Cowboys can't ignore the red flags
A video circulating on Twitter shows Bailey grabbing photographer Mark Rebilas by the shoulders and neck amid the postgame cluster of players, coaches, and media swarming the field following Arizona State's upset win.
Rebilas later addressed the incident on Instagram, saying, "the star player on the losing team took issue with me doing my job and thought he needed to put his hands on me."
There are always two sides to every story. It’s possible Bailey was provoked, or that he and Rebilas had a history that predated the altercation. Even so, it’s his responsibility, as both a student and a representative of TTU's program, to keep his emotions in check.
Bailey was a 30-visit for the Cowboys, so it stands to reason they did thorough homework on both the altercation and his reported “energy” levels. They likely got all the answers they needed.
No prospect is perfect, and Brugler’s The Beast is as comprehensive as any draft encyclopedia. He digs into these prospects as thoroughly as anyone in the industry. Red flags are bound to surface, and Bailey’s are not a stock-killer. He’ll likely still be a top-five pick.
But for a Cowboys team that may have to give up both of its first-round picks to move up, Brugler's findings give them a layer of risk to consider that may not have been there before.