Rueben Bain draft slide, explained: Why Miami star fell to Bucs at No. 15 in 2026 NFL Draft

Rueben Bain draft slide, explained: Why Miami star fell to Bucs at No. 15 in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Rueben Bain won't have to venture too far to start his NFL career.

The Miami (FL) product, who earned the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's best defensive end in 2025, had to wait longer than he would've liked to hear his name called during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Widely considered to be a top-10 pick during the pre-draft process, Bain slipped to No. 15 before being selected. The Buccaneers ended his slide, adding him to their ranks.

Bain's production spoke volumes with the Hurricanes. He was arguably the nation's most disruptive defender, repeatedly cutting down quarterbacks and running backs behind the line of scrimmage. With 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his junior season, the 21-year-old's production matched his reputation.

So, just why did he go tumbling? And what does that mean for Tampa Bay? Here's what you need to know.

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Rueben Bain draft slide, explained

Bain shined on the biggest stage in college, cementing his status as one of college football's fiercest pass rushers during the 2025 College Football Playoff. He wasn't infallible, though, with his arm length and "uniquely thick body type" leaving some scouts unconvinced of his potential at the next level.

was, by far, the biggest thing preventing him from hearing his name called inside the top-10. The worry is backed up by precedent; he's the first player with sub-31-inch arm length to be selected in the first round since at least 1999. No player with an arm length below 31 inches has recorded a 10-sack season in that same timespan.