Buccaneers’ GM Talks Biggest Concern With Rueben Bain Jr.

Rueben Bain Jr.’s slide down the board became one of the draft’s biggest talking points, ultimately ending when the Buccaneers landed him at No. 15 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht wasted little time turning the unexpected fall into a high-value addition to his defense.

Concerns over Bain’s arm length reportedly influenced pass-rusher-needy teams like the New York Jets and New York Giants to pass. Speaking Thursday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio, Licht explained why he had no hesitation selecting Bain on April 23.

“You know, I’d be lying if I said we didn’t talk about it. We never saw [short arms] affect his play. We have a couple of players on our team that have done some really good things for us that also fell into that category [of short arms]. Luke Goedeke, people said he would never be able to play tackle because he has short arms. He’s been doing a helluva job for us at right tackle. We had Calijah Kancey, who had short arms as a defensive lineman and defensive tackle. And he’s a really good pass rusher inside, despite that.”

After a breakout stretch, the Buccaneers locked up Goedeke and his “short arms” on a four-year, $90 million extension last September. The team also secured Calijah Kancey through 2027 by exercising his fifth-year option, but his injury track record could complicate near-term extension talks.

Why Tampa Bay Is Confident in Rueben Bain Jr. Despite Concerns

Yaya Diaby recently said Bain Jr. is “hungry” after slipping to the Buccaneers at No. 15 overall. Meanwhile, Licht has expressed confidence Bain will live up to expectations this fall.

“I think when you know how to use your hands, when you have fast, violent hands, I think you can overcome it,” Licht added.

If Bain somehow overcomes the supposedly catastrophic issue of arm length, he might just end up as the defensive steal of this draft class.