The Dallas Cowboys are in a position to bring in some impactful players on the defensive side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft, but only having the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the Draft will make it impossible for them to land one of the premier pass rushers like Ohio State's Arvell Reese or Texas Tech's David Bailey.
The Cowboys have been linked to Bailey more often than a team picking that late in the Draft should be, as some pre-draft whispers have suggested that Dallas is looking to mortgage their first-round picks to move up in the order to select the Lubbock dynamo.
That might explain the sudden change in how the New York Jets have been operating. After being linked to Reese non-stop for weeks, multiple national insiders have now suggested that Bailey will be the pick at No. 2 overall. This sounds like an attempt to bait Dallas in particular.
After some rumors suggested that Dallas would be interested in trading up for Bailey, this may be a ploy by the Jets to make it look like Bailey will be gone before the Arizona Cardinals pick at No. 3 overall, thus increasing the hypothetical offer from the Cowboys.
David Bailey-Jets rumors could be a ploy to trade with the Dallas Cowboys
There are reasons to have some doubt as to the veracity of these rumors. Many local reporters around the Jets are saying that Reese is still the expected favorite for the No. 2 selection, but those in the national media seem to be banging the Bailey drum. The pre-draft rumor season is in full swing.
If the Cowboys do go for broke and trade up to acquire Bailey, he would be an ideal fit next to Donovan Ezeiruaku. The run defense may be problematic, but that's why this team has invested in names like Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary to help compensate for those shortcomings.
Bailey was the most productive pass rusher in the country last season, as he has some tremendous explosion off the snap and an array of moves as a pass rusher that make him very difficult to get a hold on for any offensive tackle. His ceiling is that of an All-Pro pass rusher.
Time will tell if Jones is smart enough to see through this ruse and call the Jets' bluff here or if much of the national reporting is accurate.