“Good Football Player”
April 24th, 2026
Miami edge Rueben Bain.
*IF* new Bucs edge rusher Rueben Bain can overcome the obstacles he will face his rookie season with the Bucs, it will be obvious he is a good football player.
But for Joe, without any preconceived evidence, wondered if a pick is solid, all he needs to hear is an NFL scout call a football player “good.”
That’s what veteran NFL scribe Bob McGinn found when he did his research on Bain, the Miami Mauler, when McGinn did his position rankings for GoLongTD.com.
McGinn ranked Bain as the second-best edge rusher in the draft.
2. RUEBEN BAIN, Miami (6-2, 264, no 40, 1): Third-year junior started all three years. “Good football player,” one scout said.
“He’s a power player. He runs through people. Uses his hands pretty well. Can collapse the pocket. Has short arms. Not the rangiest body type. Doesn’t have a ton of speed. He’s not your historical top-5, top-10 D-lineman.” Arms were merely 30 7/8. Hands were small, too (9 1/8). “I think he’ll be the first defensive lineman or edge guy taken since ’99 or something with under 31-inch arms,” a second scout said. “He’ll be a major outlier. He’s super physical and aggressive but Bain is a tweener. He’s got no position. He’s not tall or lanky enough to be a defensive end. He’s not really athletic or fast enough to be an outside backer. And he’s too small to be a defensive tackle. Does he have a motor? Yes. Does he have physical hands? Yes. Is he active with his hands? Yes. As a technician, he’s going to wear a lot of bad college linemen out with his hands and effort. He did that. But, wow, do I think he’s going to get blocked in the NFL? I do.” Finished with 121 tackles (33 ½ for loss), 20 ½ sacks, four forced fumbles and two batted passes. “His quickness and power are just outstanding,” said a third scout. “He’s violent in how he plays. He’s always around the quarterback. He’s going to be the exception to the rule because I don’t think he’s very fast. He’s probably smart he didn’t run because I think he’d run around 4.8. I like edge rushers that have speed but he’s an anomaly for me. There are a lot of other parts of his game that he will compensate with.” Compared by one scout to Kwity Paye. “Those short arms and that size will be a concern,” a fourth scout said. “More of an overachiever-type athlete than a natural, fluid, silky kind of dude. But you love the way he plays. He’s tough as hell. Best thing about his pass rush is he’s relentless. Gives effort against the run. Kills the tight ends. He gets smothered up a little bit by those big (tackles). They’ll get him. He’s like a Brandon Graham.” Four-star recruit from Miami, where he led Central High to four straight state titles and amassed 77 sacks. “He’s a really, really good college player,” a fifth scout said. “When I watch him against some of the better tackles he struggled a little bit. His best shot’s going to be as a 4-3 D-end. To me, if I’m going to take him top 15, I’m hoping to get somebody that’s going to come in and give me eight sacks and build up to like double digits in the next year or two. I don’t know that that’s what he is.”
Joe just hopes for Team Glazer’s checkbook and Bain’s skillset, that someone comes to their senses on the coaching staff and knocks off this “we ask [edge rushers] to do other things.”
Do you ask your dentist to remove cancer cysts? Do you have your plumber change your transmission? Do you have your landscaper repair your air conditioner?
Let Bain eat! Joe swears if he sees Bain trying to cover new slimy Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson, Joe may just jump off the upper deck at the Licht House.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:03 am
If Joe jumped off the top of the stadium the IQ of this website would increase to low triple digits.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:12 am
Bain will be alright in Tampa
He has a high motor, he’s tough, plays violent
And he played at 2 great football programs, Miami Central and Miami U
April 24th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Don’t go threatening people with a good time!
Speaking of threats, can we threaten Bowles now with hiring Jason Taylor as the Bain’s coach that only reports to the overrated GM and ownership?
For the life of me I cannot figure out what Joe is whining about here at the end of the day but it sure is entertaining!
April 24th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Even LT dropped into coverage at times Joe. It’s a team game and the bucs team go better today.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:18 am
Joe swears if he sees Bain trying to cover new slimy Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson, Joe may just jump off the upper deck at the Licht House.
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Oh no! Don’t say that Joe – I like the around the clock updates, and one Joe just won’t be able to keep up the pace by themselves!
April 24th, 2026 at 12:23 am
The odds are in Bains B-Rex favor that he will at least be an above average player. If he becomes a pro bowl player will depend on Bowles. If you are confident in that raise your hand.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:24 am
I didn’t watch as much tape on Bain as other guys, since I didn’t think he’d be available, but watching his tape I didn’t think he looked slow. Also he’s not as big as advertised, he’s 263 pounds, not his college bill weight of 275, and that’s actually a good thing since it makes me more confident he can play standing up.
As for him being a 4.8 guy? I don’t see that from what I watched. Just know the Anthony Nelson was a combine 4.8 guy, and he looks way slower than Bain. In fact I doubt Nelson could break a 5.2 40 at this point. But still, point being, I don’t think he looks slow.
But as an OLB I think he’ll be just fine based off what I’ve seen – but will likely not be super productive right away and will be more of a typical rookie EDGE guy who needs a year to learn. That’s where I think Mesidor excelled, he felt more like a guy you make a starter from day one since he just has more experience and a bigger move set. But B-REX has a higher ceiling, and he still could have a good rookie year, I certainly wouldn’t discount that.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:28 am
After some thought doesn’t the acquisition of Bain now force Bowles hand to see that he is coached properly ? With Bowles’ history he would never be able to live it down if he screws this up. He needs to BEG for help !
April 24th, 2026 at 12:34 am
Carlton Davis’ “little” cousin, this is great
April 24th, 2026 at 12:41 am
Some tough scouting reports and it admittedly has me a lil worried.
I hope you college ball watchers are happy and correct in your assessment.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:44 am
Carolina got our TE.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:47 am
Bane broke the batman..remember that
April 24th, 2026 at 1:12 am
“I hope you college ball watchers are happy and correct in your assessment.“
Think, Clubber Lang in football pads
April 24th, 2026 at 1:19 am
The scouting reports are great bulletin board material for Bain. Weight up that chip on his shoulder.
April 24th, 2026 at 1:23 am
Other things scares me too. Take some pressure off YaYa too. Great great pick. Add Kancey and Vita. We got something!
April 24th, 2026 at 1:27 am
Quote from My Joe’s article: “ His best shot’s going to be as a 4-3 D-end. “
Just survive the regression coaching until 2027, B-Rex, the cavalry’s coming.