Rueben Bain Jr. arm length: Could measurement cost DE in NFL draft?

For all Bain's production on the field, one measurement taken at the NFL combine last month has given some analysts pause on whether he can truly be elite — and whether it will cost him in the NFL draft.

Here's what to know:

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

12. Dallas Cowboys – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

14. Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

17. Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

19. Carolina Panthers – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

25. Chicago Bears – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

26. Buffalo Bills – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

27. San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

28. Houston Texans – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri

32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

3 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

4 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

7 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

9 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

10 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

11 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

12 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

12. Dallas Cowboys – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

13 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

14 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

14. Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

15 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

16 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

17 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

17. Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

18 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

19 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

19. Carolina Panthers – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

20 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

21 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

22 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

23 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

24 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

25 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

25. Chicago Bears – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

26 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

26. Buffalo Bills – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

27 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

27. San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

28 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

28. Houston Texans – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

29 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF

30 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

31 / 32

NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection

31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri

32 / 32

NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks

32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Rueben Bain Jr. arm length

Bain measured in with 30 7/8-inch arms at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month at Lucas Oil Stadium. As noted by USA TODAY, Bain's arm length has him in the first percentile among edge rushers and defensive linemen since at least 2010, according to MockDraftable's database of NFL combine measurements.

The common arm length measurement for edge rushers is 33 inches for edge rushers, with just three players since 2010 having shorter arms. Should Bain be taken in Thursday's first round, he'll have the shortest arm length for any edge rusher drafted in the first round since 2003, per ESPN Research data.

Why is arm length important in edge defenders?

Bain's arm length has been a frequent topic of conversation with his NFL draft profile, mainly because it's an outlier in what is otherwise considered one of the top defensive prospects of the draft, and at a premium position.

Edge rushers are among the most highly sought-after and expensive positions in today's NFL. Just ask edge Texans edge Will Anderson Jr. — whose arms are 3 inches longer than Bain's — who signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension following an All-Pro campaign to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Conversely, ask New England Patriots offensive lineman Will Campbell, and how he struggled to win battles with elite edge rushers through the Patriots' run to the Super Bowl — Anderson among them.

Bain's arm length wasn't a focal point during his team interviews with NFL teams at the combine, he said.

"I didn't hear it until later in the year, but it kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life," Bain said at the NFL combine. "I don't give it the time of day, honestly."

Speaking with the NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe after Miami's pro day in late March, Bain made a reference to boxing legend Mike Tyson with how he has been handling the criticism of his arm length and focusing just on the controllable and his game.

"Like Mike Tyson … he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn't the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance," Bain told Wolfe.

REQUIRED READING: Why the NFL world is up in arms over draft prospects' arm length

Bain isn't the only edge rusher who measured low with their arm length. Former Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell logged in at just 30 1/4-inches, which is the shortest figure since at least 2010. So is the arm length of an edge rusher the be-all and end-all in whether a team takes them in the NFL draft?

"With some guys, it is," Miami Dolphins coach and former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said at the NFL combine. "Some guys with short arms, they kind of get eaten up, but some guys are so quick where they can get their hands inside first and still disengage.

"So in an ideal world, would you love to have a guy with long arms? Yeah, absolutely. But I think there's other guys that have shorter arms that are really good edge rushers or really good inside."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rueben Bain Jr. arm length, and why that matters for NFL draft prospect