New York Jets sign EDGE David Bailey

David Bailey's signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a middling grade that reflects a reasonable but unspectacular value proposition for a Jets roster that finished 3-14 last season and has clear incentive to build through the draft. At $13.7M AAV on a four-year, $54.7M deal, Bailey is priced at the boundary between solid starter and above-average money, a range that demands consistent production to justify — and early buzz around his Rookie of the Year candidacy suggests the Jets are betting on upside rather than proven output. For a first-round pick making his rookie deal, the structure is expected, but the CVI reflects the inherent risk in projecting an unproven edge rusher into that salary tier, particularly on a team that has struggled to maximize personnel investments in recent years. The value equation hinges almost entirely on development: if Bailey's pass-rush game translates quickly to the NFL level, this deal looks team-friendly given the four-year cost control; if the adjustment period is prolonged, the Jets absorb real cap drag at a premium position. EDGE is among the most positionally valuable spots on an NFL roster, which provides some floor to the CVI, but the grade stays at C+ until Bailey demonstrates he can be the kind of disruptive presence that justifies north of $13M annually.