Resisted.

Before the draft, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht made it crystal clear in conversations both on and off the record he wanted to trade back in last month’s draft.

Badly wanted to trade back.

And, per long-time Steelers beat guy Gerry Dulac of the recently rescued Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Licht had his chance.

But…

Along the way of Licht looking to trade back, something unexpected happened. The Miami Mauler, defensive lineman Rueben Bain kept falling. And falling. And falling. And before you know it, there was Bain still on the board when the Bucs were on the clock.

And the Steelers called. Suddenly, Licht’s long-anticipated desire played out. But fate stepped in the way. The Steelers, Dulac told Rich Eisen on the Rich Eisen Show, wanted USC receiver Makai Lemon.

The Bucs wanted Bain worse.

The Steelers “thought they might have the opportunity with Tampa Bay at fifteen to trade up,” Dulac said. “But when Rueben Bain was still on the board — Tampa Bay obviously loved Rueben Bain, and so they weren’t willing to trade down.”

Licht, after the draft, confessed he waited a little while to play it safe. To see if he got an offer he couldn’t refuse for the No. 15 pick. Apparently, the proposed swap from the Steelers wasn’t sweet enough for Licht’s taste and Bucs vice president of player personnel Mike Biehl broke the keyboard to select Bain.

Now it’s up to Bain (and KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles) to make sure Licht’s decision pans out.