🏈 Who Will Draft Rueben Bain Jr.? 2026 NFL Draft Projection, Scouting Report & Team Prediction

In a 2026 NFL Draft class full of outliers, none may be as interesting as the defensive lineman who dominated the College Football Playoff, but who will draft Rueben Bain Jr.?

The Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) and Baltimore Ravens (No. 14) are the biggest favorites to select Bain, according to prediction market apps. And while the All-American has created top-10 buzz for months, he has historically short arms, which will play a role in just how early he's selected.

I've spent the past year watching film and grading every top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. Below, I break down Bain's draft profile, including his biggest strengths and weaknesses; my full scouting report and draft grade on Bain; and which team I expect to draft the former Hurricanes' star in the first round on Thursday, April 23, as part of our 2026 NFL Draft predictions. 

📝 Rueben Bain Jr. draft profile

For more on the NFL draft, check out the 2026 NFL Draft odds.

Rueben Bain Jr. strengths

Violence is the name of the game with Bain. Few prospects in recent memory bring as much power and physicality to the edge position as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year brings, and it shows up both in his production and in his teammates', with opponents being so focused on Bain that it opens up one-on-ones for others. (Teammate Akheem Mesidor, another projected first-round pick, was third in the nation with 12.5 sacks thanks in part to Bain.)

With a surprisingly quick get-off, Bain can win with his ability to convert speed-to-power and walk back offensive tackles into the pocket - he has the best knock-back power in the class. However, what makes him so scary is the threat of his hands. Bain has weaponized hands and a pass rush plan that includes winning with a club-swim, double-swipe, and chop-rip. He's proficient in combo moves, which helped him lead the country in pressures (83) and finish top 10 in pass rush win rate (23.5%).

Bain's strength shows up in the run game, too, where he wins not only because of his power, but thanks to the consistent pad level he plays with as a run defender. He can set a strong edge, stack and shed blockers to get into the backfield, and his effort is relentless when chasing plays down from the backside.

Rueben Bain Jr. weaknesses

Let's get to the elephant in the room ... Bain's arm length. If he had even 32-inch arms, Bain would be in the conversation to be the No. 2 pick in the draft; he's that disruptive. But he's a historical outlier, with 1st percentile arm length (30 7/8") and a 10th percentile wingspan (77 3/8").

Length doesn't count for everything, but it does matter in the trenches. Looking at NFL Scouting Combine data since 1999, Trey Hendrickson had the shortest arms among Pro Bowl edge players (32"). The shortest arm length in the span for a quality edge player is Markus Golden (31 1/8").

There's reason to be concerned that NFL linemen will be able to neutralize Bain's hands because of his lack of length. And while his short arms weren't exposed much in college, they did lead to plenty of missed tackles ... he had a 20.3% missed-tackle rate in his collegiate career.

Rueben Bain Jr. scouting report

Since stepping foot on campus at Miami, Bain has been on an NFL trajectory. A former top-100 recruit in the 2023 class, he hit the ground running in his first collegiate season, taking home ACC Freshman of the Year honors while leading the Hurricanes in pressures (45) and sacks (7.5).

Following his freshman season, Bain was tabbed as a future first-round pick, and while he was banged up as a sophomore and saw his production dip, he entered the 2025 season with plenty of Round 1 buzz.  

Anchoring one of the best defenses in the country, Bain was a dominant force from the start of the season through the national championship loss to Indiana, thanks to his violent hands and explosive power. While his sack production wasn't always there, he had more games with seven-plus pressures (seven) than games with fewer than four pressures (four). 

Though his arm length is a concern, especially given the fact that he isn't an elite athlete, Bain has the tools to develop into a Pro Bowl player in the NFL. He's a tone-setting player with his effort, and his pass-rush plan and power will help make up for his lack of physical traits.

Even with his ceiling capped due to his lack of athletic upside and length, Bain is more than worthy of being a top-10 pick, especially in a weaker draft class, though he won't be for everyone.

Rueben Bain Jr. draft grade

• 7.35 (early 1st round)

🔮 Who will draft Rueben Bain Jr.?

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Rueben Bain Jr. draft projection & landing spots

Given Bain's arm length, he's likely not a consideration for several teams drafting in the top half of the first round. Certain teams have size thresholds positions need to meet, and arm length is a big one for edge rushers.

With Bain not just being below average in terms of arm length, but being in the 1st percentile as a historical outlier, it can be difficult to project his landing spot. Still, a player as disruptive and productive as him, with first-round tape, isn't likely to fall far.

It's hard to imagine Bain sliding past the Ravens (12% chance to draft Bain) at No. 14. That would appear to be the furthest he could fall, with GM Eric DeCosta coming from the Ozzie Newsome school of drafting the best player available. Plus, he fills a need for Baltimore, and the team isn't afraid of short-armed pass rushers (Hendrickson, Mike Green).

With that said, the Chiefs (17% chance) look like the most likely landing spot for Bain. Kansas City loves powerful pass rushers who play with high effort, and even took a short-armed edge player in the first round recently that fits the description (George Karlaftis).

The New Orleans Saints (9% chance) could also be in play, as they look for a Cameron Jordan replacement. But GM Mickey Loomis has often valued length in edge players, so Bain might not be a consideration for New Orleans.

Prediction: Rueben Bain Jr. to the Chiefs

The Chiefs need pass-rush help, and Bain fits what defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo values in the position. The Miami star wins with his power and his hands and can be a destructive run defender in the NFL. Sticking him along the same D-line as Chris Jones and Karlaftis will also give Bain plenty of one-on-one opportunities, which should help him be productive early in his career.

Kansas City GM Brett Veach took Karlaftis in the first round in 2022, despite his arms being in the 16th percentile (32 5/8") and his wingspan being in the 23rd percentile (78 7/8"), and Bain is the better prospect. This would be a slam-dunk outcome for both Bain and the Chiefs.