Draft Gurus Micah Parsons And Mike Mayock Are Less High On Rueben Bain Than Most
April 26th, 2026
Mike Mayock.
The Buccaneers’ pick of edge rusher Rueben Bain in Round 1 largely has been viewed as a steal acrosss #NFLmedia, and at One Buc Palace. But not every draft guru is in that camp.
Joe watched Packers edge rusher beast Micah Parsons play draft expert for the entire Bleacher Report coverage of Round 1 of the NFL Draft on Thursday. The dude was engaging, prepared and every damn one of the first eight picks Thursday night were on Parsons’ top-10 players list.
That’s prolific draft-guru production.
Bravo, Mr. Parsons.
Was new Bucs edge rusher beast Rueben Bain on Parsons’ top-10 list? Absolutely not.
In fact, when the Bucs were on the clock at No. 15, Parsons was not pounding the table for Tampa Bay to take the University of Miami edge rusher. Parsons first suggested Tampa Bay draft cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
Parsons was not down on Bain, but he did mention Bain’s short arms can be a potential problem at the NFL level.
Another draft expert also was not super bullish on Bain. That’s former NFL Network draft guru and ex-Raiders general manager Mike Mayock. He was not surprised at all Bain was on the board at No. 15 overall.
During the Sumer Sports Round 1 draft show, Mayock talked about watching lots of film on Bain and seeing him “literally disappear for two and three quarters at a time.” So Mayock thinks that’s why Bain likely was on the board for the Bucs.
He did think short arms was a factor, too. “I think some of the teams have problems getting over that,” Mayock said, adding that he ranked Bain as the 13th-best player in the draft.
Joe’s been celebrating the Bain pick for days, but the rookie doesn’t have everyone calling him a steal at No. 15.
April 26th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Mayock is a total fraud.
Just go back and look at his draft picks while GM if the Raiders.
Guy is a bozo.
Id be mire concerned if he liked the Bucs draft. Clueless
April 26th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Micah Parsons’ arms are how much longer than Bains?
April 26th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Please show me 2 games last year where Bain “disappeared” for 2 quarters??
I’ll wait
April 26th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Ok soooo it’s official college offensive lineman don’t develop long arms until AFTER they get to the NFL. He can beat those same type lineman he’s been playing in college for the last 3 years but at the next level his arms will be too short for them? I don’t get it because his technique will get better too
April 26th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Mayock not liking him is a great thing ..His drafts were awful.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
We seriously care about what Mayock or Parsons think? Michael Paraons?? You for real????? lol
April 26th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
I think Bain is going to be a good player for us and am happy we snapped him up. He’s got an edge and I think he will be motivated to prove a lot of people wrong.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Fanofdabucs raises a good point. Mayok s comments are the first I have heard about Bain disappearing. Any way to face check this? Let’s send it to Snopes!
April 26th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Joe Tryon and Anthony Nelson have long arms and they are studs you must have long arms
April 26th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Micah is 31 and 1/2 “ vs Bain’s 30 and 7/8 “. Not like Micah has 34 inch long arms.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
For every person that says yes, there is another that says no. Chocolate or vanilla? Coke or Pepsi?
It would concern me more if there was universal agreement.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Mike Matlock first round picks
Poor first-round decision-making (Ferrell, Ruggs, Arnette, Leatherwood
April 26th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Mayock ****
April 26th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
5/8 of an inch difference between Parsons and Bain. That’s negligible. And it could easily be argued Bain was the most disruptive player in college football last year. I’ll take that track record every time.
It’s not like he’s reached the limits of his strength and athleticism yet either. He could turn into an absolute monster. That story Joe posted about Indiana’s center saying “Bain’s an animal” after taking a deep breath when being interviewed right after winning the national championship says it all.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Hummm….most of our edge rushers disappear for 4 quarters. If this guy can just appear for one quarter and get a sack, then we are doing pretty good. My favorite disappearing Bucs DE was Simeon Rice. Yeah, he could disappear for a few quarters then show up in the 4th quarter, get a sack, force a fumble and close a game out…..ohhh… but he didn’t do anything in the other quarters…
April 26th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
I was watching draft coverage with Parsons on it, along with a very very high Malik Nabers, and Parsons wasn’t down on the pick of B-Rex at all, he just didn’t have him in his top 10, so it wasn’t the huge value others think, but he didn’t think it was a bad pick. For what it’s worth, out of Parsons top 10, I believe 8 went in the top 10, which was the best top 10 list vs drafted that I saw, and he probably has a career in TV post career. Nabers, meanwhile, was throwing a fit that the Giants didn’t take Caleb Downs – I mean literally pouting and throwing, he was sooo high.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
The word Guru is moronic. He fell in the draft to a team in need. Just don’t let him drive, and you’re good to go. Mayock’s picks with the Raiders didn’t work out so well. Go Bucs!!!
April 26th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
Mayock showed his expertise while he was Raiders GM for that hour
April 26th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Remember when Mayock was a GM and his picks for the Raiders? He needs to go back to the shadows, he has nothing to say that anyone of us should believe. He was awful as a draft day picker GM.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
You guys are some big time dopes if you think Mayock was making the picks with the Raiders. You probably also thought Bruce Allen was making the picks in Tampa.
Hint – Gruden runs the draft room, makes the final calls – in Vegas just like in Tampa once he went to the Glazers and got McKay fired – once he was out of the way, Gruden never again didn’t call his own shots, and ran two teams into the ground with his awful personnel selections.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I like the pick
April 26th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
I remember how Mayock thought so highly of Robert Ayers of Tennesee one year. Dude didn’t produce in college, didn’t look good at the Senior Bowl, and didn’t show out at the Combine. And he loved him. He was an average at best pro. Then he swing and missed majorly as the Raiders GM on a DE early that nobody else liked. I’m not sweating it due to them. I’m sweating if because Bain is a 263 lb power guy playing against much stronger pros. At least the effort is there.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
I’m a little tired of the “short arm” BS. If he hits a QB in the ribs with his shoulder, the extra 3/4 of an inch of arm length everyone whines about won’t matter.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
He won’t be an elite pass rusher. That doesn’t mean he won’t be a good player.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Not sure what the above comment even means, since longer arms gives you a better ability to fight thru the lineman in the first place and get to the QB.
In any case, I like the ferocity Bain plays with, but I just don’t see the skill set of the dominant ones so I think his ceiling is limited… It won’t matter because the Bucs have too many holes next season and Bowles has proven he is unquestionably a below-average coach. Should’ve been fired last year.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
We will have to wait and see when he proves them all wrong !!
April 26th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
Mike Mayock’s tenure as Las Vegas Raiders GM (2019–2021) was defined by high-profile first-round misses, notably Clelin Ferrell (No. 4, 2019), Damon Arnette (2020), and Alex Leatherwood (2021).
While finding gems like Maxx Crosby later, his top picks underperformed
Key Mike Mayock Draft Busts (Raiders Tenure)
Clelin Ferrell (DE, 2019 – Pick 4): Widely considered a reach, he failed to become a dominant pass rusher, rarely justifying his high draft spot.
Damon Arnette (CB, 2020 – Pick 19): Released after just one season following legal issues and poor on-field performance.
Alex Leatherwood (OL, 2021 – Pick 17): Started all games as a rookie but led the league in pressures allowed, leading to his release shortly after.
Henry Ruggs III (WR, 2020 – Pick 12): A high-performing player, but his career ended abruptly due to a tragic felony arrest, making this a total loss for the team.
Johnathan Abram (S, 2019 – Pick 27): Frequently injured and largely ineffective in pass coverage.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Bain didn’t have any trouble against plenty of guys with 35 inch+ arms in the college football playoffs. He has great hand techniques, is an expert at bend and leverage and he’s extremely strong for his weight. It will translate. Mark my words.
I’m wondering how our pass rush looks if David Walker happens to work out really well as a speed rusher too. Even though he and Bain are almost exactly the same size. With one on either side- look out! Our rush could go from terrible to awesome in **one season**!
April 26th, 2026 at 9:09 pm
I would say Micah is worried Bain might be more successful!!! Doesn’t want to hype him up as he is competition.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
“Draft Experts ” Really Joe.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Capeaceiskaput Says:: Something ridiculous and untrue.
April 26th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Hummm….most of our edge rushers disappear for 4 quarters. If this guy can just appear for one quarter and get a sack, then we are doing pretty good. My favorite disappearing Bucs DE was Simeon Rice. Yeah, he could disappear for a few quarters then show up in the 4th quarter, get a sack, force a fumble and close a game out…..ohhh… but he didn’t do anything in the other quarters…
April 26th, 2026 at 9:16 pm
It had been written elsewhere that B-Rex can be swallowed by the better OTs.
We shall see.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:17 pm
The long arms v. short arms is crap.
First, if he is rushing and using two arms against a T, then he’s already lost th down. I don’t care how long his arms are.
And it’s not like he’s a T-Rex.
Mayock could not deliver as a GM. Why would I take anything he say seriously?
As for Parsons, I don’t want to hear what current players think. They are competition. And say what he wants, only one of them could not finish the season because of a bad knee.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:17 pm
When Mayock was with the Raiders he drafted numerous busts. Take his opinion with a grain of salt.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
5/8″
April 26th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
Not like anybody here knows a thing or anybody anywhere else. Your guess is as good as mine or theirs. We’ll all wait and see. Some will win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues.
If a team hits on 55% of their draft picks, meaning they get a second contract with anybody, it is considered a good draft. Not much more than 50% of first round draft picks are considered a success. By those standards, Jason Licht has had a remarkable last several years – especially considering his UDFA hits.
Nothing else to do this time of year but speculate. It’s silly and narcissistic for anyone to think they know a thing about what will actually happen but that’s what we do when there is nothing else happening.
Bring on underwear football! At least then we’ll have something to see and talk about, even if it is almost as meaningless as our current discussions.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
If Mayock doesn’t like the pick, I’m even more excited for it. From couch sitting “expert” to massive failure of a GM I take nothing he says on players relevant at all.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Maylock is jealous he couldn’t get a great player on his team like Bain, and Micah big Bain’s college record speaks for himself. This player will show up in the NFL, just like Donald did with your so called short arm syndrome.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Maybe if Maylock focused on production and not tape measures and 40 times, perhaps he’d still be a GM.
April 26th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Hey Mike Mayock,
Tell me you don’t watch Canes games by telling me you watch Canes games where Bain disappeared for 2 quarters.
You, Mike Mayock, are a clown 🤡🤡🤡
April 26th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Mayock having Bain 13th on his board is still pretty high lol. I don’t know why you guys are getting upset
April 26th, 2026 at 9:52 pm
Beer good
April 26th, 2026 at 9:52 pm
B-Rex had been written about as getting swallowed up by better OTs. We shall see.