Mel Kiper Jr., Dane Brugler share huge Rueben Bain Jr. draft predictions after concerning report

Recent whispers suggested that Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. will not fall beyond the 10th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft even though it was learned this past weekend that he was involved in a fatal vehicular crash when he was a sophomore in March 2024.

For mock drafts posted on Wednesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Dane Brugler of The Athletic revealed that they agree with such assessments regarding Bain's draft stock. 

Rueben Bain Jr. linked with two different teams

Kiper predicted that the New Orleans Saints will make Bain the draft's eighth overall pick. 

"The Saints' defense is getting a bit of a refresh this offseason," Kiper explained, "and regardless of whether defensive end Cameron Jordan comes back, they need more youth and juice on the edge. Bain might have short arms for the position, but he also has immense power, plenty of explosion and the deep pass-rush toolbox to beat offensive tackles with consistency."

Arm-length concerns have hovered over Bain since the combine and previously made him a polarizing prospect. Nevertheless, Brugler believes the Kansas City Chiefs will grab Bain if the pass-rusher falls to the Chiefs at selection No. 9. 

"His profile fits Kansas City and would give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo an inside-outside disruptor on the defensive line," Brugler wrote. 

Why Rueben Bain Jr. story didn’t come out earlier 

Bain was cited for careless driving regarding the incident that resulted in the death of one of his passengers, but that charge was later dismissed. On Tuesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared why he thinks teams view Bain as they did on the morning of April 12. 

"All 32 teams, to be clear, were aware of the incident," Breer said. "I first heard about it in February, when I was gathering information ahead of the NFL combine. And I think the easiest way to answer why it didn’t come out earlier is that, for teams, it wasn’t going to impact where he would be drafted. After I heard about it in February, only a couple of teams raised it with me when discussing Bain, and those I raised it with basically said there was an explanation."

Inevitably, the general manager who marries his team to Bain will have to explain why the club was comfortable with going down such a route.