Colin Cowherd Mock Draft has the Dolphins Selecting…

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength. Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams. However, his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike. He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.

Strengths

• Loose hips and violent hands create shorter rush corners.
• Disguises speed-to-power charge, surprising tackles.
• Can stab and shove tackles off-balance, creating inside openings.
• Accurate two-hand swipe batters and clears the punch.
• Power like a defensive tackle with agility like an edge.
• Explodes punch into the chest of blocker.
• Can eat blocks and hold his ground at the point of attack.
• Hands and feet are in full alliance to shed and work around edges.
• Coached by NFL rush aficionado and Hall of Famer, Jason Taylor.

Weaknesses

• Ducks head and drops eyes, driving into run blocks.
• Short arms will get him crowded at the point of attack.
• Average pursuit speed out to the flanks.
• Will take some plays off when action doesn’t come his way.
• Counters don’t come naturally at the top of the rush.
• Average closing burst to the quarterback.

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Draft Profile: Bio

Rueben Bain Jr. comes from a South Florida football family with deep ties to Miami. His grandfather Herman starred at Northwestern High in the 1960s, his father played offensive line at Carol City, and cousin Tolbert was part of Miami’s 1987 title team. Tolbert used to bring young Rueben to campus for youth camps, and when Cristobal offered, there was nothing to decide.

Bain attended Miami Central, where he won four state championships and racked up 77 career sacks. As a junior he posted 29.5 sacks on a defense that allowed 15.4 points per game. He earned the Nat Moore Trophy as South Florida’s top player and was selected for the Under Armour All-America Game before choosing Miami over Alabama, Georgia, and LSU.

He started by Week 3 as a true freshman in 2023 and led all FBS defensive linemen with 7.5 sacks, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. A calf injury limited him to nine games in 2024. In 2025 he started all 16 games as team captain, posting 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 15.5 tackles for loss while winning the Ted Hendricks Award, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and consensus All-American honors. He helped lead Miami to the national championship game against Indiana.

Scouting Report: Strengths

• First-step quickness is a real separator; he is moving before tackles can get their hands set.
• Initial punch lands with force and consistently knocks blockers off their spot at the point of attack.
• Converts speed to power naturally, winning outside before walking tackles back into the pocket.
• Takes tight angles around the edge and gets his shoulder down without drifting wide or running past the quarterback.
• Plays the run with real aggression, crashing gaps and holding up against double teams from tackles and tight ends.
• Effort is consistent from first snap to last; cleanup sacks and backside pursuit show up regularly on tape.
• Versatile alignment options give coordinators flexibility to move him from a wide nine to interior passing-down looks.
• Performs in big moments: five sacks during the College Football Playoff, including three against Texas A&M.

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Arm length measured under 31 inches at the combine; NFL tackles with reach will challenge him differently.
• Gap discipline is inconsistent; he gambles and vacates his lane, giving quarterbacks easy escape routes.
• Secondary hand moves need development; blockers who absorb the initial punch can recover and neutralize him.
• Missed tackle rate above 20 percent across his career suggests issues finishing in space against shifty backs.
• Counter rush repertoire is limited when plan A stalls; needs a deeper set of moves against NFL-level tackles.

Scouting Report: Summary

The positional conversation around Bain will carry through April because his body type does not fit a single box. At around 265 pounds with sub-31-inch arms, he is undersized for a traditional edge alignment but too explosive to move inside full-time. The best answer is probably a hybrid role where he lines up on the edge as his base but kicks inside against guards on obvious passing downs. That kind of usage plays directly to his strengths: the quickness and power that give tackles problems will create even more trouble against guards who are not used to defending that athlete.

The arm length is going to show up in certain matchups. Long, athletic tackles at the NFL level will keep him at distance in ways college tackles could not. That is a real concern. But Bain led all FBS players with 83 pressures in 2025 and posted a 92.5 PFF grade against real competition in meaningful games. The production held up in the playoff when Miami needed it most, with five sacks across four CFP games.

A defense that values pass rush versatility and is willing to move Bain around the formation is the right fit. He does not need to be a 60-snap edge rusher anchoring against the run on every play. He needs a coordinator who will use his get-off and power creatively, mix alignments, and put him in positions where the arm length matters less. The motor and competitive makeup are not in question. The production is not in question. What Bain needs is the right scheme and a staff that knows how to maximize an atypical body with an uncommon skill set.