Jason Licht Gave Ruben Bain Falling To Bucs A Miniscule Chance
May 4th, 2026
What were the odds?
It’s wild how teams prepare for the draft and run through so many scenarios of how it may play out. They make themselves dizzy. Paralysis by analysis.
For example, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht (and other NFL general managers) have confessed they even look at mock drafts from #NFLMedia just to cover themselves in case a player they didn’t expect might fall down in the draft, which could shake up the entire draft.
This past draft was no different.
Licht and his staff spent weeks (months?) going through hundreds of potential draft options to make sure they were not surprised when the Bucs picked at No. 15.
Speaking with popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein on “Schein on Sports” last week, heard exclusively on SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Radio” channel, Licht explained to Schein exactly how many times the Bucs researched the draft where they had Bain falling to them.
Even then, Licht waved off the possibility.
“I do have a great staff all around me,” Licht said. “I wouldn’t be able to survive without them. We went through what seems like a thousand scenarios leading up to the draft.
“And I would say, maybe, three times did we say Bain would be there. And we sort of brushed over it. ‘Well, this is unlikely to happen. We don’t need to go over this too much.'”
So why did Licht say he and his staff didn’t discuss drafting Bain? Because, he told Schein, if Bain somehow fell to No. 15, Licht considered it a stone-cold, lead pipe lock he would pull the trigger on the Hurricanes star.
And then the unthinkable happened.
“I would say we gave it a one percent chance that would happen,” Licht said.
Joe hopes Licht spent the weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to take advantage of his lucky vibes while he still has them.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Never expected Bain to be there
May 4th, 2026 at 7:47 am
Now…Hope TB isn’t thinking about routinely placing him in coverage.
Let him HUNT!!
May 4th, 2026 at 7:56 am
The only way I thought it might happen was when the accident started up in the news and some mocks had him falling I think to 10 or 11. Not that I put a lot of stock in the mocks but there may be some grains of truth in there. Thought that if there was a run on offensive line man that someone would be pushed down. Some mocks still has Styles fall to us at 15, SMH. Had Love going top 10 and with all the other guys it was a push just to see who had who rated where, that’s the big unknown. When Tate was taken that high I thought right there that things were going to play out differently and then the Rams taking a QB? The other teams evidently had their boards set up differently according to THEIR grades, needs, etc. I also think some teams over thought things and gifted us the best d-line/pass rusher/ run stopper in the draft.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Not too many complaints on the Bucs off-season. Yes, they kept Todd for Lord only knows why. But the improvements to the Putrid Pass Defense have been added. Let’s get ‘Born Again” Bakers new deal done and we are ready for 2026. Our division still stinks. Go Bucs!!
May 4th, 2026 at 8:14 am
The idea of Bain dropping to the Bucs at #15 is insane. Makes you wonder about some teams front office capability. For years the Bucs was an organization in disarray. When Jason Licht was hired he had some ups but mostly downs. He got better and has proven to be among the better run organizations.
Hopefully that same growth for Todd Bowles and coaches will bring a realalistic chance of the Bucs going to the Super Bowl 🏈.
May 4th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good…
May 4th, 2026 at 9:50 am
From the time Bain stepped on the U campus, I wanted him in pewter; however, even then, I had doubts that he would ever wear the pewter and red. One, he was that good, and the Bucs would not have a draft pick high enough to get him, plus I saw him as a 4-3 defensive end. Yeah, chances were slim. Then, when the info came out about the car wreck, I thought Jerry Jones leaked it to the public (as NFL teams had already done their research) so he would slip to the Cowboys, and when they did not draft him, I was like, ” You sly devil, JL”, but thanks. When he was there for the picking, I told my wife, I said if the Bucs do not pick Bain, though I am from Florida (Bucs since 76), I threatened to switch to the local team in Charlotte for a year, but they rescued me. Go Bucs, Go Canes (not the ones in NC)
May 4th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Drink up Jason. Luck is not skill.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
The rams took a QB…..thats what happened. So lucky he fell to us….
May 4th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Had Jason traded back or not picked Bain, I may have smashed my tv.
When we were on the clock I just kept saying “don’t screw this up Licht!”
Jumped up and down when the pick came in!
May 4th, 2026 at 9:07 pm
When the #15 pick went on the clock I kept saying over and over, these idiots better pick Bain. These idiots Better pick Bain, watch these idiots pass on Bain. Then the pick came in and it was Bain. I jumped up and down and said the licht was a genius.