NFL analysts love one member of the 2025 Texas Tech football team above the rest

Late last month, the 2025 NFL Draft took place with only two Texas Tech football products being selected in the seven-round event. However, most expect numerous Red Raiders to be drafted next spring thanks to the influx of talent brought to Lubbock by the transfer portal. Though several Red Raiders look to have NFL futures, one new face is currently the apple of the NFL's eye.

David Bailey, a senior transfer edge rusher who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford, is being projected as the highest-rated NFL Draft prospect on the roster. Though he is not yet a household name around Raiderland, most plugged-in fans are well aware of what he brings to the table.

In the class of 2022, Bailey was a 4-star signee with Stanford. That year, he was rated the No. 66 overall player and No. 7 edge rusher in America according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

Thus, as you might expect, Bailey was one of the most coveted players in the country. He held offers from USC, Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Washington, among others.

However, he decided to stay in his home state and play for the Cardinal. There, he racked up 111 tackles and 14.5 sacks in three seasons. That included a career-high of seven sacks last fall.

Now, he comes to Lubbock, where he will join the most talented defense he's ever played for. Surrounded by talent this fall, he could put up monstrous numbers, and that could make him one of the top picks in next year's NFL Draft.

Some are projecting David Bailey to be a first-round pick in 2026

Though we are a year away from the next NFL Draft, people are already trying to project who will be the top prospects in 2026. Of course, those projections will change dramatically over the next 12 months, but the fact that Bailey is showing up in many of the early 2026 mock drafts is an indication of how highly regarded he is.

Last week, ESPN.com's Jordan Reid released his early 2026 first-round mock draft. He had Bailey headed to the Buffalo Bills with the 28th pick.

"Three of the Bills' first four draft picks this year were dedicated to the defensive front," Reid writes, "but that shouldn't stop them from adding more. Bailey was a late transfer to Texas Tech from Stanford, where he finished with seven sacks and three forced fumbles in 2024. He is most comfortable from a stand-up position, and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich could scheme him off the edge in Buffalo."

Meanwhile, on X, many who love to scour video of prospects are taking note of what Bailey can do. There is already tremendous hype surrounding this new Red Raider, and that will only grow if he has a monster senior season in Lubbock and Texas Tech is nationally relevant throughout the 2025 season.

Texas Tech isn't known for producing first-round NFL talent. In fact, since 1983, only three Red Raider defenders (Gabe Rivera in 1983, Jordyn Brooks in 2020, and Tyree Wilson in 2023) have been taken in round one.

Perhaps Bailey could add to that group a year from now. If he does, it will likely mean that the Red Raiders' defense had a standout season and that 2025 lived up to the hype.