Bucs Fans Got What They Wanted
April 23rd, 2026
Happy fanbase.
Joe has been polling fans for weeks on what they wanted in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Two answers always were the most popular.
Bucs fans wanted Tampa Bay to target an edge rusher, or they wanted the Bucs to pick the best player available.
It sure seems like the Bucs accomplished both tonight by drafting University of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain. Few in the draft guru world thought Bain would fall that far. He was a consensus top-10 pick.
As ESPN draft-night analyst Booger McFarland, the former Buccaneer, said after the selection, “Bain was the most dominant defensive lineman in college football last year.”
Booger also called him “a power-based player with heavy hands,” and Booger laughed off the knock on Bain has having too-short arms.
Bain then showed his swagger to the nation. In a black suit and shades, and calm as a cucumber, he told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge at the draft in Pittsburgh, “I know I’m the best in the country.”
Bain went on to say,”I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.”
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 pm
D-line is going to be strong and nasty
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Def best available! Ioane was gone so it was a no brainer….
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 pm
What Lewi just said.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Great pick. Dude is serious as a heart attack. No pictures and no smiles, all he said was, When I get to the NFL, it’s going to be poppin. Love that attitude. All Biz.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:52 pm
I gotta give Jason his props
He nailed this draft , we are on our way
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Dude looks all business. Love the pick. He stood out the few times I saw Miami play, I always remembered #4
Go Bucs !
And the whole family was wearing brown suits not black
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
The short arm thing is stupid. Also, who cares he didn’t run the 40 in underwear. JTS has long arms and he’s complete trash. Turn the tape on boys. He will be a difference maker.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
But can he cover? Does he have ball skills? He only had 1 int last year.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
We have a legit front 7 now!!!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Bain won the Ted Hendricks award last season.
You know who else won that award?- Aidan Hutchison
Bucs may have hit the lottery with this pick.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Rest of the division is worried now.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Lol Lakeland! Jason did nothing but sit there as he fell into their laps.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Happy camper at my house Joe.
Can’t wait to see how the rest of the draft plays out.
What a steal…wow!
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Let’s see how the rest plays out.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Tell me someone had video of sean Sullivan
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:58 pm
I figured a couple players would fall to us. They always do.
This time Licht pulled the trigger.
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Mount Vita-Crushya is going to erupt !
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
If we can somehow end up with Jacob Rodriguez tomorrow night we are so improved.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:01 pm
The big question is can the mindset of Bowles be changed ?
Old dogs are not known for changing their ways.
We will soon see if he can “coach it better” or not.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:03 pm
bain is insane…………glad licht didn’t refrain 🙂
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Great take other Joe that gets it . Bowles will know how to use a guy that actually has talent.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Rest of the division is worried now.
——
The comments I’m seeing from fans on Reddit are mostly one word and profane.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
NICK…..Bain will not need to cover, the quarterback is going to be running for his life!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
I see an violent defense making an Tampa landing.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Now trade vita vea and #46 to Seattle for #32 and pick Kayden McDonald. Assuming he’s still there. The way the first round is going McDonald may still be there.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Now trade our 2nd, Braswell and a 4th or 5th to go back up for J-Rod
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:07 pm
I kinda feel sorry for Sean because this draft has not gone anything like what the draft gurus thought it was going to go. Then again, Sean’s pretty damn happy to be wrong right now.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
“tarzan bain does not play like jane”
(whispered the ghost of joel b, as the pick was announced)
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
No trades please
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:09 pm
any trade…………….add in bras-not-so-swell
#GiftHimAway
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:10 pm
The one player I wanted but was sure we had no shot. I said before the draft tonight “I hope Love and Bain don’t land in our division”. Can’t believe he fell to us!!
Love it!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:10 pm
BayouBuc…ain’t nobody want Braswell.
You take him. lol
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:11 pm
How will all the new talent brought in for their “violent” play react to playing for Bowles who has never shown that type of coaching mindset before ?
Who will be the defensive captains ? Vita needs to step up big time and assert himself starting NOW. He needs to take charge of the defense.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:12 pm
Now get a LB and we’ve looking good! Not great yet but much improved.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:13 pm
That’s how you build a physical , violent team from the trenches out. You get guys like Bain and Robinson. Adding these guys to vea who is the definition of a beast and kancey if he can stay healthy is a legit dline.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Does he cover better in the zone or man to man? No f-ing excuses Todd stop being an average coach. Stop making this team a perpetual average team. I like Todd but no more excuses.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:14 pm
I like his attitude. He even tapped the logo as he walked to the podium. He’s pissed off and talented which is good. But who knows how Bowles will use him. I’m sure he’ll find some way to screw it up but this kid might be good enough to overcome this bad scheme. Fingers crossed.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:15 pm
If we can somehow grab Jacob Rodriguez in the 2nd round it will be amazing…
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:15 pm
WTF!!!! How did we get him? Starting at #11 I was mentally pleading for LICHT TO TRADE UP. Was sure Rams would draft him. Now I have a reason to watch the Bucs this year!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Seems like a home run.
I will reserve judgement until I see him in action and how he compares to Mesidor.
25 and injuries for Mesidor, I get it… I just see more finesse and better moves outta Mesidor in the highlight packages.
I hope the short arms don’t play and Bain just keeps bulling into the backfield.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:17 pm
Bee..thing is… he’ll survive Bowles.
It’s the way I see it.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 pm
The combination of talent plus working with Jason Taylor is going to have him ready to contribute in the NFL right away! Couldn’t be more happy with this pic!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Walk off home run pick. Golden goal pick. 3 point winning shot pick. Ace to win a grand slam pick. 30 foot putt on 18 to win a major pick.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you improve a football team. Once Bain slid out of the top 10, I was begging for Licht to go up and get him. Can’t believe he fell this far. Stop the T-Rex arms sh@t. If you watch college football, you know this kid is a football player!!!!! He’s also pissed that he lasted to 15.
A++++ pick!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Havent been this pumped for a Bucs 1st round pick since Evans.
Bain was the best defensive player in college football last year. I started watching him a lot last year. Then watched almost every game he played in this year. The guy was either getting a sack, blowing up the run or chasing the QB for Mesidor to clean up.
Absolutely pumped for this pick! And the fact the Bucs didn’t trade up to get him. JL stayed calm and had a few guys he probably would’ve stayed at 15 for. Bain was a no brainer once the Bucs were on the clock.
Lets go!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:20 pm
I will NOT get my hopes up!!! I will NOT get my hopes up!!! I will NOT get my hopes up!!! I will NOT get my hopes up!!! I will NOT get my hopes up!!! I will NOT get my hopes up!!!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
BAIN BRINGS PAIN!! Now we need an cover corner and 3 down inside linebacker who can cover!
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Rams did us a favor lol….I thought they would select BAIN…that might’ve put them over the hump…oh well lol
GO BUCS
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Jason Taylor was backstage with Bain. Pay Taylor whatever he wants.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Awesome!!
36 Games started.
33.5 TFL
20.5 sacks
4FF
83 QB pressure (most in history)
He is relentless and very, very good against the run
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:35 pm
Put down the hopeium pipe boys.
From the Bucs website:
In his 13 seasons, Foote played in 187 games, with 912 tackles, 25 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
Bains new OLB coach averaged 1 sack about every 7.5 games.
After being coached by Jason Taylor and given Bains personality and makeup, I smell conflict coming soon.
GET TAYLOR !
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:39 pm
Maybe the Rams were hedging against being unable to get Baker.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:44 pm
Get taylorrrrr ..time for some new u blood
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:45 pm
I should have mentioned Foote that was not an OLB.
April 23rd, 2026 at 10:45 pm
At 15 he is the steal of the draft. And he is only 21 not 25 like Mesidor . The other steal of the draft was Ty Simpson. After a year behind Stafford with Mcvay as his coach, look out. Mark my words he is going to be elite in a few years.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:10 pm
‘ “Bain went on to say,”I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.” ‘
Great.
Get your mind ready to sell hot dogs in the end zone because that’s how deep your new genius coach(es) will be having you drop 45% of the time.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Rams are the strongest on their d-line, why would they have drafted another? Never saw QB though. Glad we got Bain, she how he does.
April 23rd, 2026 at 11:25 pm
I door-dashed confetti to throw it all over neighbors yards here in Atlanta. Told wife to get bail money ready.