Bruce Feldman: Rueben Bain Is The Best Miami D-Lineman Since Warren Sapp
April 23rd, 2026
Bucs great must be smiling.
First off, new Bucs edge rusher Rueben Bain is not Warren Sapp. He may never be Warren Sapp.
But Joe gets why Bain is connected to Sapp.
Sapp was a powerful, game-changing tackle for the Hurricanes in the 1990s. Bain was a game-wrecking edge rusher for the Hurricanes.
Sapp unexpectedly fell to the Bucs. Bain fell unexpectedly to the Bucs.
That’s about where the similarities end.
But noted college football scribe Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, who also went to college in Miami, had high praise for Tampa Bay landing Bain tonight during The Athletic’s Football Show draft webcast.
Feldman thinks Bain is the best defensive lineman produced by Miami since Sapp stomped on the Orange Bowl turf.
“With all due respect to Calais Campbell who was better in the NFL than he was at Miami, Bain is the best defensive lineman Miami has had since Warren Sapp,” Feldman said.
“Now Sapp fell — fell for different reasons — fell to [the Bucs]. And I just think you get a guy here who was the most dominant player in the playoff. Like, he killed these teams in the playoffs.
“Miami did not look like an underdog because [Bain] got after people.”
Feldman said he spoke with several college and NFL defensive coaches about Bain and while Bain’s short arms may be a concern, they surely were not a hindrance at Miami.
“His bend is crazy,” Feldman said. “He doesn’t look like he should bend the way he does. He is really powerful. He plays the run great.
“I think [the Bucs] getting him here is great value.”
Joe doesn’t think the arm length is an issue, either. Otherwise, Bain wouldn’t have ragdolled people in college. Like Feldman said, Bain destroyed people in the playoffs. Those weren’t teams like Wake Forest or Purdue. They were Texas Tech and Ohio State and national champion Indiana.
Now, Bain will be in the cauldron of the NFL. Joe wonders how well he can cover new slimy Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson.
.@BruceFeldmanCFB on the "great" value in EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 for the Buccaneers.
He even went on to say that "Bain is the best defensive lineman Miami has had since Warren Sapp." 👀🔥
🎥: @TA_FootballShow pic.twitter.com/5uvY6u5GIb
— SleeperBucs (@SleeperTBBUCS) April 24, 2026
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:18 pm
I think Rueben Bain and Yaya Diaby with be a great duo
For many years to come
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
When he has more passes defensed than sacks, his coach will be happy.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:23 pm
Thrilled! Most dominant player in college football imo. The one guy I wanted of them all. Was worried he was going to the Saints then sweated all the way to 15. Unbelievable!
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:23 pm
“Joe wonders how well he can cover”
Stop it Joe.. Joe stop it.. don’t ruin my night.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:25 pm
Now, Bain will be in the cauldron of the NFL. Joe wonders how well he can cover new slimy Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson.
^^^^^
OUCH ! That’s a good dose of sarcasm Joe. 👍
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:26 pm
Why is everyone so hype, he played 3 years of college and his most sacks were 9.5, before that 5. His hype is on his pressure rate which didn’t do shyt for the Bucs last year. I’m more interested in seeing David walker play after full season and I’m 100% confident he will start over Bain. Should have took Mesidor he played ILB and got 3 more sacks than Bain did last year. Horrible choice for a first rounders when mesidor was available
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:27 pm
Short arms WTAF?! Who can bench press more, an alligator or a giraffe? I’m 6’3’, I have very long arms. I can’t bench press a napkin. Give me the guy who can move another human from Point A to Point B the fastest and the most violently, and I’m good.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 pm
Walker was a 4th rounder last draft and had better production. These guys think they’re being slick picking draft players whose stats stick out in different ways. Pressure rate got us nothing last year and Bain is the same size as diaby and a lot slower. We have interior defensive lineman faster than him. You massed up on the best ilb in the draftee after Javonte retired to pick this guy? Unreal
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:32 pm
Another tryon shoyinka on the way
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:35 pm
WillieG, that was an awesome post.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:36 pm
Creamsickle..
You’re clueless.
First if all, you clearly dont watch college football. This guy was the best defender in college last year. He was constantly making plays.
Mesidor didn’t play ILber. Wrong again. The reason Mesidor got half his sacks was directly related to Bain putting QBs in his lap.
Go watch football..or just don’t comment on things you clearly are clueless about.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:42 pm
They use to say Mike Tyson was too short with short arms
But when they got hit, they quickly apologized
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:46 pm
Creamsicle, your ignorance is showing. Like, a lot. What a terrible take. I hope Walker is a star, but he went to a small school. The nearly overall consensus is that Bain was clearly one of the best edges in this draft and a dominant defender. Be contrarian if you like, but bring something to back it up. Otherwise you just look like an idiot.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:52 pm
I feel myself getting caught up in the excitement despite trying to avoid it. Jason and the owners absolutely need to step in and assert themselves or Bowles will screw this up. I have ZERO confidence in him whatsoever. The next 8-10 years of this team rides on Bowles tonight. Two years ago I only listened to the games on radio. Last year I did not even listen. I followed the team only here on JBF. 51 years of being a fan and I will give them one more shot on radio. If Bowles screws this up I will place the blame on the Glazers and walk away for good. The NFL means nothing to me anymore. As an entity it does not deserve interest or respect from me. I will not waste my remaining years following the Bucs without reward. There are many more things in life far more important than a corrupt money making entertainment scam.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:40 am
Sapp and Donald both had short arms
April 24th, 2026 at 1:23 am
B-Rex don’t need no arms!
April 24th, 2026 at 3:27 am
Man sometimes I need a Xanax just to read the roller coaster of emotion known as the comment section. First of all to the dude who said David walker is better I just want to point out that he and Bain both have played the same amount of NFL snaps. Seems like a solid pick, edge rushers typically take time to develop so hopefully that’s not the case. Would love to see them pick up either dt or ilb second round. Hopefully j-rod or Allen are still there if not I wouldn’t mind a pivot to miller or McDonald if available
April 24th, 2026 at 7:29 am
JTS has long arms.
April 24th, 2026 at 8:09 am
As long as Bowles does not try to have him covering running backs and wide receivers he will do just fine. The Bucs have a edge rusher, finally.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Creamsicle Says:
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:26 pm
Why is everyone so hype, he played 3 years of college and his most sacks were 9.5, before that 5. His hype is on his pressure rate which didn’t do shyt for the Bucs last year. I’m more interested in seeing David walker play after full season and I’m 100% confident he will start over Bain. Should have took Mesidor he played ILB and got 3 more sacks than Bain did last year. Horrible choice for a first rounders when mesidor was available
———————-
Crazy how dumb you are and don’t seem to mind showing it to everybody else. Mesidor? Please let me know of any DL drafted 24 or over (Mesidor is 25) that has ever dominated in the NFL. Bruce Irvin was good… he could fly…. and that’s it. Gaines Adams, Margus Hunt, Peria Jerry… were all 24 or over when they entered the NFL and none of them were worth anything. Mesidor’s age is a humongous red flag. The fact that you don’t realize that is concerning. I’m not sure you are capable of picking a place to go out to eat let alone a player in the NFL draft.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:49 am
It reminds me of how sapp was falling too. Not that Bain plays the same position or will be a hall of famer. I did not watch any tape on Bain because I didn’t think he would be available, but I was watching something the other day on Reggie White and he just overpowered the tackle and ran right through him just threw him around like a ragdoll. I saw Bain alsogo through people and slippery and going around blockers. We might have gotten you something real special.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
I mentioned it before the draft that Bain or Styles could fall to us just because of who I saw going when. I knew more O-linemen and wide receivers would go earlier than projected and there was only a few teams really to get past to get one of them. À truly awesome outcome. His motor and brutality are unmatched in this draft. I saw lots of video of him beating double teams too which is great because he has Vea on the line to help with avoiding needing to do that.
April 24th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
@bradon lmao is that the only stat you have to back up your theory?? I’m looking at college production and combine results and your looking at an age that’s make a 1 year difference. Your as dumb as they come
April 24th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
@steven007 consensus? There are a lot more dumb people than smart. What does your consensus think about that? If that’s all you have to back up what you’re saying you’re the idiot lmao. His production was not good and he is slow. You really think that’s going to translate well in the NFL. I truly hope your not as dumb as you sound
April 24th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
@fanofdabucs your name speaks for itself, if you think he was the best college defender your the one who’s wrong lmao. I don’t watch much college ball but I do watch enough to know that mesidor did play ILB & edge. Do your research before you look like a complete moron.
April 24th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
Ok so even tho he’s listed in some places as an ILB he primarily plays edge, DT. Regardless my point stands and is even reinforced by his versatility that he was the better choice over Bain for multiple reason