Rueben Bain Jr. 2026 NFL Draft Profile

The first thing that stands out when watching Bain is his explosive first step. He generates tons of burst off the line of scrimmage to win early in reps. His speed is remarkable for his position, allowing him to close in on quarterbacks quickly. Bain combines his speed with exceptional power and hand placement to beat pass protection in a multitude of ways. He regularly gets inside of linemen to create interior pressure. His 6-foot-3 height is an advantage against taller offensive tackles, as he can get lower than them and generate momentum. Bain is also an excellent run defender, routinely shedding blocks to make tackles. He is alignment versatile, as he can play outside as a 5-technique along with more inside as a 3-tech.

Weaknesses

Bain’s aforementioned injury history raises concerns about his durability at the next level. He can also improve when it comes to finishing reps. While he consistently gets in position to make tackles and sacks, there are times he doesn’t finish the play and leaves production on the field. Consistency with tackling is the most significant area of improvement for Bain as a prospect.

Overview

Defensive ends are arguably the most coveted players in the NFL outside of quarterbacks. Teams that already have their franchise signal-caller and a high draft pick tend to look for edge rushers. Bain’s combination of speed and power gives him incredible upside. He provides value on every down as both a pass rusher and a run defender. It will be interesting to see how the rest of 2025 looks for Bain under new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.  Miami has a history of productive pass rushers at the next level, with Calais Campbell, Gregory Rousseau, and Jaelan Phillips, to name a few. If Bain can stay healthy and improve as a tackler, he will likely be a top-ten selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.