Former Iowa football star reacts to Buccaneers NFL draft pick

After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Miami Hurricanes EDGE rusher Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, former Iowa football star offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs gave his reaction on X to the franchise's first-round draft pick.

For Wirfs, who enters his seventh professional season with a 2021 Super Bowl title already under his resume, expressed excitement for the Buccaneers' choice of the dynamic defensive star by posting a GIF of the DC supervillain, Bane, being revealed in the opening scene of the 2012 Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises".

While the spelling between the iconic supervillain and the new Buccaneers defensive star differs, the reaction from Wirfs suggests the former Hawkeye is more than thrilled to call Bain Jr. a teammate for years to come.

As for the value of the draft pick, the immediate reaction from media and fans alike is overwhelmingly positive, especially given that the Buccaneers clearly needed an EDGE rusher and did not need to trade up in the draft order to land a premier talent like Bain Jr.

While none of the 10 draft-eligible Hawkeyes were chosen in Thursday night's first round, there is high optimism that several Iowa players will get their names called within both the Day 2 (second and third rounds) and Day 3 (rounds four through seven) festivities.

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