David Bailey Rookie Contract: Salary With Jets

The Jets walked into the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 2 pick and had plenty of options available to them. That included the option to trade down and pick up additional draft equity – a valuable thing for a team with a major talent deficit.

The Jets held onto their pick and selected Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey. 

Bailey, who will turn 23 before his first NFL game, wasn’t the most talented player available. He wasn’t a long-term solution at quarterback, which the Jets still desperately need. But he was the player most likely to succeed no matter the talent around him.

In other words, he’s unlikely to be a bust. That’s a welcome development for both Jets fans and New York Jets odds backers. 

David Bailey Contract

David Bailey signed a four-year deal with the Jets worth $54,674,726.

As a first-round pick, the value of his contract is fully guaranteed.

David Bailey Signing Bonus

David Bailey’s rookie signing bonus with the Jets was $36,223,436. 

David Bailey Salary

David Bailey will make about $37.1 million from his NFL contract in 2026, but nearly all of that money comes from his signing bonus.

The remaining $885,000 is base salary, which is the rookie minimum for NFL salaries.

David Bailey Fifth-Year Option

Like all first-round picks under the current NFL collective bargaining agreement, David Bailey’s contract includes a team option for a fifth year. This is colloquially known as the fifth-year option. 

If the Jets pick up the fifth year, Bailey would remain under contract through 2030.