Bengals witness potential 1st round NFL Draft target put on a show while on-site for 2026 Orange Bowl
Cincinnati had its eyes on an elite NFL Draft prospect.
The Cincinnati Bengals sent at least one staff member to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl, in which Oregon shut out Texas Tech, 23-0.
Oregon dominated on both sides of the ball and got its revenge after losing to Ohio State in last year’s Quarterfinal as the No. 1 seed in the CFP, but Cincinnati was there to see players for both teams in preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. One draft-eligible player had a game to remember, even if he was on the losing side.
Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey shines with Bengals looking on
Texas Tech’s defense was led by edge defender David Bailey causing chaos on both side of the formation. Bailey finished the game with nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defensed, and a sack. He also had plenty of pressures outside of the lone instance he finished at the quarterback, including a QB hit that caused an interception.
What really stood out was Bailey’s explosion paired with strength and bend. He got off the ball quickly, and gave Oregon’s offensive tackles fits around the edge, and with power moves. He stayed disrupting the pocket for all quarters despite the lopsided score.
This game was nothing out of the ordinary for Bailey, who went No. 7 overall in A to Z Sports’ latest 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft to the Washington Commanders. He’s been a productive force off the edge for the entire 2025 season with 13.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss through the 13 games that got the Red Raiders into the CFP.
Bailey solidified his status as a likely top-10 pick, and with the Bengals slated to land around that range in the draft order, Bailey should absolutely be on their radar for the next few months.
Cincinnati will look to add more talent to its defense in free agency and the draft. Myles Murphy has ascended as a starter, but the roster needs more talent at defensive end with Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai entering free agency.
Add Bailey’s name to the list of names to remember when the draft rolls around in April.