Jason Licht Wasn’t Lying
April 23rd, 2026
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
In his pre-draft media availability, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht half-jokingly said if he couldn’t trade down, whomever he and the Bucs ended up with at No. 15 would prompt Licht to stand at the same podium moments after the pick and say, “We got our guy.”
Thursday night, moments after Miami Mauler edge rusher Rueben Bain slipped to No. 15, Licht jogged to the podium with a wry smile and before anyone had a chance to ask a question, yelped into the microphone, “We got our guy.”
This time, it seemed Licht was sincere. And it seems his Bucs personnel staff was in full agreement. Santa dropped off an early Christmas present right in Licht’s lap.
Licht said he wasn’t sure he heard the Bucs war room erupt like it did when Licht finally pulled the trigger on Bain. Licht also referred to the room as “emotional.” And that was clear to those watching on ESPN.
He even said Bucs coach Todd Bowles was fired up and as Licht admitted, Bowles usually takes the draft in stride and “keeps things close to the vest.”
Licht was asked about the vehicular fatality Bain was involved in — he was driving but no charges were filed — and Licht said Bain’s character checked out. It was just an awful incident and accident, and not indicative of any character flaw in Bain.
Licht also said that it sure helped Bain’s cause that his position coach at Miami, Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor, gave Licht a strong recommendation.
Now, the Bucs have two more steps to help Bain blow up with the Bucs.
First, hire Taylor as Bain’s position coach with the Bucs. Second, knock off this “we ask [edge rushers] to do other things.” Let him do the one thing for which he was drafted. Let the man eat! Let him punish quarterbacks!
See quarterback? Sack quarterback! It should be no more complex than that!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:17 pm
Joe, you’ve mentioned this a few times. You act like it’s just a matter of Jason asking Taylor to come over and us hiring him. Would love to see if it almost certainly not going to happen. And shouldn’t need to. Ruben is not going to forget everything he learned in college. And though it seems crazy, he might learn a few new things here. Positive things, haha.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:17 pm
As a die hard Notre Dame fan, Bain was a main ontributor to beating us in the opener. That quickly cemented him as one of the top defensive players in the FBS which he maintained throughout the season and kicked it into hyper drive for the playoff run
Dude is an absolute dawg
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Do not..Do Not drop him in coverage. For God’s Sake please!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Loser
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
You obviously don’t know the genius of Todd bowles.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Get him a driver!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:20 pm
I wish we had like buttons lol Hodad ⬆️
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Hill, Allen, Rodriguez, or Golday next, please.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
I think we can pressure the QB with a 4 man rush now
If Bowles wants to blitz, he can, but not as much
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:22 pm
If you don’t like the Bain pick, you don’t watch college football.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
I DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Bain was a no brainer….or no Bainer. I have been on Bain’s bandwagon for a long time. He will make an impact as a rookie. With Bain, Vea, and a healthy Kancey, the Bucs pass rush will be much more effective. Bain’s impact will be infectious.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Lakeland, great point. At least the potential is there to get pressure with a four-man front. And if that works, Todd’s defense works.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:25 pm
HAPPY FEET ARE DANCING OUR WAY!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:26 pm
If we can get to the QB with a 4 man rush
That will help our pass defense a whole, whole lot
I think Rueben Bain help us get there
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:26 pm
BassCrazy…wth are you on about?
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:27 pm
CK94 will keep Bain in check…not worried at all…
This kid wants it!!!!
GO BUCS
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:28 pm
I SEE GREAT THINGS COMING TO BUCLAND!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Bowels has yet to produce a a edge rusher……
.
Hope springs eternal
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:31 pm
Lol Bass a little early yet.
No doubt this kid is REALLY good.
I wanted edge and got the best.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:31 pm
THE NEW KILLER B’S……BUCS, BATTERED QB’S, BOWLES, BAIN AND BIG WINS!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
1st & 2nd down…CK94, A.Robinson, vita, yaya
3rd down…AQM, CK94, yaya, Bain
GO BUCS
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:36 pm
Joe isn’t worried that Bain will forget what Taylor taught him. Joe is worried he will remember what Bowles “teaches” him.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:36 pm
ADD SOME BAKER, A BIT OT OF JIMMY BEAN AND BOCEPHUS!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:40 pm
Totally support this pick. Kudos to Licht for not overthinking it.
We don’t need 1 elite 6’5 280lb unicorn on the edge. Give us a group of skilled, aggressive dogs and we’ll be good. This is a fantastic start.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Who’s the odd OLB of the Bucs on his way out? Braswell, Nelson? Wonder if we could get a 5th, or 6th for Braswell?
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:41 pm
lol Bass
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:41 pm
You naysayers crack me up. There is no pleasing you. If not Bain with this pick, then who?
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:44 pm
The Bucs needed some good news after a rough offseason so far. They got some tonight.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 pm
This seems like a good pick. Too bad we don’t have a Defensive Cordinator to keep Our esteemed Defensive genius HC from putting him in coverage
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 pm
licht got lucky hopefully he will be proactive getting a lb
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 pm
Happy for Licht and Bowles.
How do we feel about Les Snead if we are Rams fans?
SB window is now. Did they open it wider or pass on a valuable Pick to help Stafford?
I’d have been looking for Ioane, Bain or Lemon there I think.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:48 pm
not a good pick it was the obvious pick
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
I am fired up about the drafting of Ruben Baine, love the pick and feel incredibly fortunate that he slipped to the Bucs.
Let’s all understand that rookie defensive lineman rarely come in and light it up. Let Baine develop and don’t expect immediate staggering results. Very rarely does a pass rushing end get drafted and comes out on fire.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:54 pm
Someone said a healthy Kancey. There’s a wish in one hand and dump in the other proposition. We’re experiencing this same experiment with Sirvocea Dennis. He flashed talent, couldn’t stay on the field…until he could, and the talent was a mirage.
In all fairness, a 5th round selection doesn’t have the tools of a 1st rounder. Kancey arrived with expectations, Dennis with hope. But both arrived from Pitt. It’s serendipity. Brittle Panthers.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:58 pm
What freaking idiot would suggest this was a bad pick. The crowd I was with were all celebrating , celebrating a huge steal of a pick in this draft.. The Bucs just got a stud pass rusher that was projected to go in the the top 10.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:59 pm
Capt ahab Says:
“Very rarely does a pass rushing end get drafted and comes out on fire.”
.
.
True. Bain is also very good against the run, so he will be valuable no matter what downs they use him on.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:04 pm
I know we all like to run Todd out of town but this is our lowest first round DE since Gaines Adams 2007, Joe Tryon was #32 pick. Lets enjoy it. We had great success with JPP and Shaq under Todd. If we can to QB with 4 many things can happen.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Joe I’m with you. But we both know, Bowles isn’t going to change anything. He will continue to overload every player with every job assignment even if they’re not cut out for it, and expect them to have mental telepathy or some kind of faster than light quantum wormhole to be “on the same page.” It’s time to face that we have the reincarnation of Lovie Smith, right down to the nepotism .
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:07 pm
It isn’t just reuniting Bain with Taylor. It would most certainly benefit YaYa as well bleed over to the defense as a whole. The culture of the coaching staff needs an attitude adjustment just as much as the players. If Bowles remains loyal to Foote in the face of needed change and opportunity then he’s not as bright as he’s made out to be. It’s time for him to be ruthless.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:12 pm
JD the success with Shaq and JPP was under Arians.
Fox guards henhouse now.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Todd was the DC 2019-2021 he ran the same defense. Correct?
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:26 pm
Who was DC when Shaq got 19 sacks?
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:41 pm
Todd was DC – 2019
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:43 pm
BAINTRAIN! He’s gonna be good!
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:43 pm
The DC had a boss then. He doesn’t now.
If you don’t understand it, well it explains a lot about the Pom Pom queens.