Jets David Bailey silences doubters with three-sack masterpiece: Felt good

This was the version of David Bailey the Jets have waited for.This was the performance that — if it stacks together week after week — will validate their decision to draft him at No.

2 overall and pass on others. It took until Week 5, until the Jets’ 17-12 win over the Browns at MetLife Stadium, but Bailey delivered the best performance of his career after a week where pressure had started to mount.Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.

He finished with three sacks and tied for the team lead with seven tackles, while generating the most pressures in a game by a rookie (nine) since Jared Verse in 2024.Given his geographic proximity to Giants rookie Arvell Reese, whom the Jets passed on and whom Big Blue selected three picks later, Bailey’s slow start was magnified, but he started to quiet any early concerns Sunday. “I’m not really on social media,” Bailey said, “so I can’t really speak on what was said.

But … all that I feel like matters is what my coaches are telling me and what my teammates are telling me.” Bailey’s most impressive sack occurred on a third-and-30 in the fourth quarter, on the defensive possession after a field goal extended the Jets lead to 10-6, when he blew past Cleveland’s Spencer Fano and dropped Deshaun Watson.He then stuffed running back Quinshon Judkins for no gain on a second-and-3 with under 10 minutes remaining.His pressure on third down set up a fourth-and-6 with 57 seconds left, too. But Bailey started to reverse the trajectory of his first Jets season early in Sunday’s game.

He tackled running back Raheim Sanders after a 1-yard gain on a screen during Cleveland’s first drive.Then, he picked up a sack on the first play of the next Browns possession, winning his matchup and getting an extra second to work with when Watson fumbled the snap.

The whistle blew before Watson ended up on the turf, but Bailey was still credi...