David Bailey is already generating attention in camp, with reports of early practice dominance shared alongside notes that Will McDonald IV is settling into a hybrid pass-rush/coverage role and that kicker Andres Borregales missed several long attempts — a point that drew a terse response from coach Mike Vrabel.
Those three developments — Bailey’s practice hype, McDonald’s role evolution and Borregales’ long-range misses — come from a roundup published Aug. 15, 2026 by Wyatt Grindley at NFLTradeRumors.co and reflect early impressions from joint practices and training-camp work, not regular-season performance.
David Bailey: early practice dominance
Rookie edge rusher David Bailey (reported as the No. 2 pick in the Grindley roundup) has been singled out by veteran observers for how quickly he has adapted to pro work. Jets veteran Demario Davis told team outlets he hasn’t seen many rookies start this strongly and described Bailey as having instincts and run-fit awareness beyond typical early impressions.
“I’ve been around a ton of rookies … He looks like a number 2 pick. He looks like everything that’s been advertised or more,” Demario Davis said, quoted at NFLTradeRumors.co (Wyatt Grindley, Aug. 15, 2026).
That praise is practice-based and should be read as an early evaluation: scouts and teammates are projecting traits they value, but practice performance is a limited sample that doesn’t guarantee regular-season production. Grindley’s piece frames these as impressions from joint practices rather than definitive projections about the season.
What Demario Davis and others are saying about Bailey
Multiple voices in the report emphasized both Bailey’s physical tools and the caveats that come with early praise. Teammates noted his ability to create problems for blockers, while opponents in joint practices flagged specific matchups where Bailey stood out. The coverage attributes the strongest praise to players and observers in practice settings; it does not claim that the rookie has proven himself in regular-season games.
Practice details: joint practices and the Luke Goedeke matchup
The reporting highlights Bailey giving blockers consistent trouble in joint practices, including a noted matchup against Buccaneers right tackle Luke Goedeke. According to Grindley’s summary at NFLTradeRumors.co, Bailey repeatedly affected the pocket and showed comfort winning with both power and suddenness in run and pass work — traits that can accelerate a young edge’s path to rotational snaps.
Context matters: joint-practice reps often produce useful glimpses and can expose young players to different looks, but they are not the same as sustained in-season performance against starting-caliber offensive lines across a full schedule. Evaluators typically treat these flashes as directional, not dispositive.
Will McDonald IV’s projected role and coach commentary
Will McDonald IV, entering his fourth NFL season, is discussed in the roundup as a player set to operate in multiple alignments — sliding between outside linebacker and conventional defensive end in subpackages. The piece notes an emphasis on developing his coverage chops in addition to his pass-rush role.
McDonald told reporters he’s excited to “drop into coverage” more frequently and to add pass-coverage snaps to his pass-rush game. The staff figure referred to as “Glenn” described a plan of consistent reps and targeted development designed to put McDonald in spots that highlight his strengths while addressing weaker areas.
“Consistent practice, consistent reps … for us putting him in those positions where we know that he can excel,” Glenn said, per the NFLTradeRumors.co summary.
If McDonald can reliably hold coverage responsibilities while still generating edge pressure, his schematic value rises; if not, his role could remain primarily situational. That distinction will matter when coaches allocate snaps across the defensive rotation.
Special-teams note: Andres Borregales’ long-range misses
The report also calls out Andres Borregales for missing three of five long attempts during camp work. Those misses came from 49, 55 and 56 yards, according to the source. Coach Mike Vrabel responded succinctly when asked about the misses.
“I don’t have a message,” Vrabel said, and added, “We’re expected to make them,” an exchange relayed via Pro Football Talk and included in the Grindley roundup. That phrasing underscores an expectation of consistency from placekickers and the short leash teams place on special-teams reliability; it also reflects how coaches often keep comments concise while signaling standards publicly. For the coach’s broader remarks earlier in camp, see the Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9 transcript.
What this could mean for the roster and camp battles
Taken together, these items sketch three different camp narratives. For David Bailey, the immediate implication is increased attention in practice rotations and early whispering about readiness; coaches may give him varied snaps in preseason work to test how his pass rush and run-setting translate in more competitive game reps.
For Will McDonald IV, the hybrid usage described suggests a role tied to schematic flexibility: his value will grow if he can reliably handle coverage duties without sacrificing edge pressure. That versatility is increasingly prized in subpackage defenses and could influence how coaching staffs deploy personnel in passing downs. For a broader look at defensive personnel groupings that reward such flexibility, see Patriots Defensive Triplets.
For special teams, Andres Borregales‘ misses are a flag worth watching. Coaches publicly insisted on expectations for made kicks; internally, misses in camp typically translate into more practice repetitions, comparative snaps for competing kickers and closer scrutiny as preseason games approach. How Borregales responds to live-game kicking conditions will be the clearest next signal.
All three items remain provisional. Practice and joint-practice reports provide early directional signals, but they do not replace game reps. Any roster or depth changes should be viewed as contingent on how players perform in live preseason action and further practices.
Source, caveats and next steps to monitor
This article summarizes reporting from Wyatt Grindley at NFLTradeRumors.co (Aug. 15, 2026) and includes direct quotes and paraphrases attributed in that piece. The Vrabel quotes about kicking were relayed via Pro Football Talk in Grindley’s roundup; readers should treat praise for rookies like David Bailey as practice-based impressions that require regular-season validation.
Key near-term items to watch: preseason snaps for Bailey against starting offensive lines, how often McDonald is asked to drop into coverage in game scenarios, and whether Borregales rebounds on long attempts once game conditions and live-kick situations arrive.
Original coverage: Wyatt Grindley, “AFC Notes: David Bailey, Andres Borregales, Will McDonald, Jets, Patriots,” NFLTradeRumors.co, Aug. 15, 2026. Source: https://nfltraderumors.co/afc-notes-david-bailey-andres-borregales-will-mcdonald-jets-patriots/
FAQ
What happened with David Bailey?
Early joint-practice reports have Bailey drawing praise for his pass-rush and run-fit instincts, with teammates and opponents noting his ability to create problems for blockers. Those observations are from practice settings and should be treated as early, non-definitive evaluation (source: Wyatt Grindley, NFLTradeRumors.co).
Why does David Bailey matter?
If Bailey’s practice flashes translate to preseason and regular-season snaps, he could accelerate into meaningful rotational work on the edge given his reported toolkit. For now, the takeaway is heightened attention and more opportunities to earn snaps during preseason play.
What happens next?
Monitor preseason game reps, situational usage in practice, and Borregales’ response to long kicks in live conditions. Those will be clearer indicators than isolated joint-practice impressions.
