Is Rueben Bain The Monster The Bucs Hope?
April 23rd, 2026
Miami edge Rueben Bain.
So normally, “this Joe” would be ecstatic about the Bucs getting an edge rusher at No. 15.
However, “this Joe” knows the defense Todd Bowles uses is not conducive to developing an edge rusher. So the Bucs got a Mustang engine and will try to get it to run in a Pinto body.
Hopefully, HOPEFULLY, someone at One Buc Palace has an epiphany and decides to use an edge rusher for the reason he was drafted: to get after the quarterback.
Having an edge rusher do “other things” has worked out so well. #sarcasm
But draft guru Dane Brugler loves Bain, the Miami Mauler. Brugler, in his draft guide “The Beast” seen in The Athletic, has Bain as his No. 3 edge rusher in the draft.
A three-year starter at Miami, Bain lined up as the field defensive end (three- and four-point stance) in defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s four-man front. After combining for 58.5 sacks over his junior and senior seasons in high school, Bain stayed home and played for Miami, where NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor served as his D-line coach. A consensus All-American as a junior, Bain made his presence felt — especially in the College Football Playoff — and led the FBS in pressures (83), the most by any player in a single season since 2017. However, he also led the FBS in pass-rush snaps (557), 106 more than No. 2 on the list (No. 41 in the FBS in 2025 in pressures per snap).
With a uniquely thick body type, short arms and an average get-off, Bain isn’t the picture-perfect embodiment of what NFL teams covet in a pass rusher. But he consistently deconstructs blocks with power and is a tough player to slow down. As a pass rusher, Bain uses anvil-weighted hands to jar blocks off balance with rip/bull-rush moves and regularly forces quarterbacks off spots, flushing production to his teammates. He plays low and squatty in the run game, with the violence and awareness to shut down the edges.
Again, Joe hopes Bain completely balls out. Joe just prays that Bowles turns this man loose.
Please, for the love of all that is holy, let a hungry dog eat!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:44 pm
Yes let’s go bucs 💪😁💪
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:46 pm
He fell in our lap, the pick had to be made. I think he’s gonna be good for us. YaYa plus Bain should be good for us.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Say what? Do we have somebody else drafting this year? This can’t be right
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Dude was pissed off lol I love it
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
FUK YEAH
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Bain was born in the dark..he’s got an boulder sized chip on his shoulder..GO BUCS
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Man I just got a chubby! LFG!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Let him eat!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Joe won’t have to take the little blue pill tonight!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
@joe go back and watch their championship run last year and them come back here and say the same thing. He basically carried that team through, and he’s used to the FL heat!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Finally
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Ioane was gone and the next best pass rusher still sitting there? it was a no brainer….and he WAS PISSED that he dropped….boy i hope he tears it up for us…
Now go get Jrod or Hill jr
And shout out to Jason, I saw you flexing in the room after that pick lol. We got a gift!
Todd, DO NOT drop him in coverage!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
People unhappy with this pick are just unhappy people
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:49 pm
Great pick.
Fire Bowles now!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:49 pm
If Bowles continue to play that awful super soft stand around zone, it doesn’t matter if you had LT in his prime out there.
But tighten up the coverage, even a little, and we should see some good results.
Only downside on Bain is I’m not so sure he’s a day 1 starter like Mesidor – who I thought you literally could play from day 1. But that’s not to say I don’t love the pick, but I think Bain will be more of a typical rookie edge, which means we might not get a ton of production right away. But he certainly has a higher ceiling I’d say.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:49 pm
I’m finally happy about this team for the first time in months.
Great pick LFG!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:49 pm
If I’m not mistaken this guy was the most productive edge/lb this year and he wasn’t bad last year.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Stupid take, Joe. Makes absolutely no sense.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Great pick….best player available & a need
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 pm
And had the gas at the end of the year and showed up through the college playoffs
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 pm
J Rod or CJ Allen and I’ll be ecstatic !!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:52 pm
With all the O-line guys pretty much gone this was a gift. An angry gift
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:52 pm
Can’t believe he dropped to us! What a f’n steal. Now let’s hope JRod is there in the 2nd.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Bain will not disappoint. I have been watching him play since he was a freshman at Miami and he is a game wrecker. The college playoffs this year really showed his dominance. Every team knew they needed to stop him, and he still dominated. Don’t F!ck this up Bowles.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Sean has got to be ecstatic we got bain goodness yes go bucs baby
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:55 pm
No 1 player in the draft on attitude. Dude is relentless. Unreal he was there at 15 because he has short arms and can’t run 40 yards under 4.6 seconds. Jesus Christ how stupid is that. Ask Aaron Donald about playing with short arms
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:55 pm
If you watch any college football, you know this kid is a game wrecker! Had to take him!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Welcome to the prevent (T.D.) and the 328 (T.B.) defense
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
The Uuuuuuu baby let’s goooo
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
how many people first thought he was pissed he got drafted by the bucs?
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Buc’s now need a cover corner and inside linebacker who can play all of downs!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
TAMPA BAIIIIIN!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Umm Joe go back and watch the Super Bowl . I think Bowles knows how to use a talented edge rusher . Good lord . Quit pissing on everyone’s parade ..
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
A rare moment when the BPA was actually our greatest need too.
Wow, we freaking jumped on Bain Lol. The pick was in immediatelyl.
Had to make this pick once he fell to us.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
Joe, when you give Todd marginally talented rushers to begin with, how much development do you expect? I think ira made that point the other day. If you’re an oil painter and someone gives you watercolors, the painting’s going to look bad. Here’s a talented rusher who has been productive through high school and college. Let’s see what he does in the NFL.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
Speaking of mike drops. This pick left a crater right in the middle of RayJay. You got your guy Lee. Awesome pick!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
bain is insane 🙂
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
I was thinking the Bucs were going to take Sadiq in the 1st round. And while I’d love to have him, I’d so glad to be wrong.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:01 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“If Bowles continue to play that awful super soft stand around zone, it doesn’t matter if you had LT in his prime out there.
But tighten up the coverage, even a little, and we should see some good results.”
/Signed
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:01 pm
Hes got a nasty attitude. Just what the Bucs need. Lets hope Bowles doesnt neuter him and make him a docile clone of himself
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:01 pm
Early fan favorite camp battle is Bain v Mohammed, closely followed by Bain v either Wirfs or Goedeke.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Our D line really got nasty with this pick
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Doesn’t matter how Todd Bowles uses this stud this fall. He’ll be gone after the season. What does matter is how much of a game wrecker this guy is.
This is a great selection.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Steven007 Says:
“Joe, when you give Todd marginally talented rushers to begin with, how much development do you expect?”
I’ve been saying this since before the last draft.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I’m with Joe. Todd just got a hammer. Will Todd learn to use his new hammer correctly?
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Took the best available as well
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
‘it would be extremely painful…for you.”
Giddy with excitement.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
It’s weird that he fell. Whatever. I just remember the 2020 season with Shaq balling out and JPP. The chiefs playing in the SB with backup tackles and Bowles turned them loose. I just don’t think Bowles has had the horses. Who thought YAYA was going to come in from Louisville and do what hes done T 82ND overall? This season could hinge on this pick and yaya getting it done. Add in the fact we need a good corner and another middle LB. Sirvocea Dennis is a special teams player at best. Watch the games again and focus on him. He’s out of position constantly and missing tackles. With Lavonte finally losing a step it was a huge hole up the middle. And it showed on tape.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Obvious Says:
“Doesn’t matter how Todd Bowles uses this stud this fall. He’ll be gone after the season.”
We thought he’d be gone this year. It’s not a sure thing.
I do think that if we make it to the SB, he’ll retire.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:06 pm
This dude has some legit anger in him. Bowles needs to get out of his way and let him rip.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:06 pm
It was a very Sapp-like fall
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Gonna struggle in zone coverage with those short arms.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:10 pm
Whichever Joe this is is a MORON! This take is something like a stupid poster would say, not a co creator of this site who should not be so stupid! Let us real Bucs fans celebrate this steal and not worry about your childish takes!
!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:12 pm
I like his versatility playing interior and outside the line.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Well you won’t have to worry about making the sb and him retiring.
What you can count on is a 7 floor and 9 ceiling. Problem for Todd is the division got better. No more easy faux division titles to fall back on.
Doubt that flies after week 17 this time around.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 pm
No he won’t because he will be our 4th rusher.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 pm
We need to nail these next two picks. We need a LB and either a CB or another DT. We can really fix up this defense with three new starters. Great pick with Bain, im pumped
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Rodriguez and McDonald might drop to Rd 2
It’ll be hard to pass up on either
GO BUCS
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Before the Bucs pick at 15, the draft was totally unpredictable and weird. It really seemed to start when the Chiefs traded up. All the experts, even Sean, got wrecked. Hurricane will be good this year, and great after Bowles leaves.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:22 pm
Something incredibly good just happened and we got this pee in our cornflakes article. Did Bowles coach the defensive ends in the Super Bowl? I seem to remember a certain end getting 19.5 sacks at one point….remember, Joe? Stop listening to the Debbie Downers around here and celebrate!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
I like the pick. Bain can play. I don’t think it solves pass rush issue. I don’t see him being more than a 4-7 sack guy. He won’t be a bust and will make the defense better but will notice it more in the run game.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Agree with Joe, Bain is a monster but Bowles is not inclined to let him loose. I hope for the best–it would be cool as heck to have Bain and Kancy healthy and doing what they do best. Sht let Bowles put Yaya in coverage.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:25 pm
This kid started with the best football sentence I’ve heard in years
” im gonna pop ’em”
Hall and jts just weren’t that kind a person. Sure they had the measurements. Those kind of guys are how you think about.
Thid is a guy you know. Not think.
Let the guy play i like our chanced.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Mveal2006 Says:
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:25 pm
This kid started with the best football sentence I’ve heard in years
” im gonna pop ’em”
————-
Isn’t that the same thing that Ray Lewis said in Atlanta?
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
This dude is a difference maker. Can’t wait for 3rd down again.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 pm
This is My Joe.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Sullivan was right – 7 OT taken in rd 1. Defensive guys fell. Great for the Bucs. Might need to trade up for our next guy. But maybe not. JL held his water and Bain fell to us. One of the LBs or McDonald may get to us or a corner.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:34 pm
Funny that everyone was so concerned with pass rush and then wants Bain/McDonald combo who aren’t pass rushers.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:45 pm
I do think Bowles is out after this year based on this pick. Drafted a prototype strong side DE in a 4-3 defense. I think Licht knows this is it for Todd and is preparing for the future HC
April 24th, 2026 at 12:05 am
This pick is about the future of the D for the franchise, not about how the player fits with a Bowles D that will likely be gone in 9 months.
April 24th, 2026 at 12:45 am
Hope so lads. A few zealous pollytards will disagree under 12 different names, but, yes.