Will concerning new Rueben Bain Jr. report impact whether or not teams will draft him?

The supposed draft stock of Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. had generated numerous discussions among analysts and football fans throughout the spring. 

That was before a new concerning report emerged on Sunday. 

Rueben Bain Jr. was previously involved in tragic incident

According to Ollie Connolly of The Read Optional, Bain was involved in a fatal vehicular crash when he was a sophomore at the University of Miami in March 2024. One of four passengers, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, ultimately died after spending nearly three months in a coma as a result of Bain's car hitting another vehicle before it slammed into concrete barriers.

While Bain was cited for careless driving, that charge was dismissed roughly two weeks before Betts died. Per Connolly, "no finding of criminal liability has been made in connection with the crash or [Betts'] death." 

"As her family, we remain deeply committed to honoring her memory in a meaningful and appropriate way," Betts' family said via a statement shared by Connolly. "Destiny’s passing was the result of a tragic accident that occurred several years ago. While the loss remains incredibly painful for our family, we have worked hard to find peace and move forward. At this time, we are not seeking public attention surrounding this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be honored. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career."

Will new Rueben Bain Jr. story impact his draft stock?

ESPN's Field Yates recently predicted that arm-length concerns could cause Bain to slide past the 12th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, it's thought that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could have some interest in selecting Bain at choice No. 12. 

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, teams have been aware of the Bain case "for a long, long time, and there was a lawsuit associated with the case that was settled in Miami." Breer added that the driver of the other vehicle was the plaintiff in that suit.

However, Connolly noted that one team executive admitted that his organization is "concerned about multiple incidents" regarding Bain.

The NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh on April 23.