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Teams picking in the Top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft that have needs on the defensive side of the ball should consider themselves blessed. With Fernando Mendoza expected to be the only quarterback drafted in the Top 10, the table is set for high-level defensive talent to come off the board quickly right after the Las Vegas Raiders pick him at No. 1 overall.
As things currently stand, Ohio State's Arvell Reese is expected to go No. 2 overall, possibly followed by his Buckeyes teammate Sonny Styles at No. 3, then Texas Tech's David Bailey at No. 4. All three of them are expected to be defensive stars at the next level. But they may be getting competition from Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.
Bain has been considered a Top 5 draft prospect talent since he began dominating offensive linemen as a freshman with the Hurricanes in 2023. In his final collegiate season, he put it all together, racking up 9.5 sacks and leading Miami's defense to the National Championship game.
Bain's playing style is an NFL coach's dream, but there's one drawback: his arms are very short for elite pass-rushers. That point alone has the defensive players mentioned above going ahead of him in most mock drafts.
Rueben Bain's edge-bending ability stands out during Pro Day workout
But as draft prospects go through their Pro Day workouts, Bain is once again surging up draft boards due to one specific trait that's crucial for pass-rushers: his ability to bend.
Bain's workout at Miami's Pro Day was a clinic in how to bend around the edge, which is how smaller pass-rushers get around lone offensive tackles. It stood out to many how much better Bain is at doing it than Reese and Bailey. Bain combines that with incredible sheer power in his hands.
The production, skills and intangibles are all there for Bain. Despite his arm length making him an outlier, there's no one more equipped to exceed expectations than him in this draft.