The NFL Scouting Combine is underway, and the Kansas City Chiefs
have kept busy. General manager Brett Veach spoke to reporters yesterday about free agency, the draft and how he will build the Chiefs’ 2026 roster.The process starts with researching the 2026 NFL Draft class and meeting with prospects as the football world is gathered in Indianapolis this week. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the Chiefs are doing homework on the defensive line class, including a meeting with one of the top players.
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. revealed to the pool of reporters that he has met with the Chiefs. According to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, Bain felt like “he had a real strong interview.”
He was one of three draft prospects to reveal their meeting with Kansas City on Wednesday, along with David Bailey of Texas Tech and Dominique Orange of Iowa State.
The Arrowhead Pride staff’s analysis of Bailey and Orange will be coming soon, but Bain is one of the most well-known prospects to Chiefs Kingdom in this draft cycle. Through one month of tracking data from offseason mock drafts, Bain was the second-most often picked player for Kansas City, behind running back Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame.
Bain is one of the biggest focus points among the top players at this year’s Combine. He is ranked sixth by The Athletic’s consensus big board, but questions about his measurements — specifically his arm length — are being asked by many in the draft community. The results that come out on Thursday will be intriguing in terms of how they will affect his draft stock.
However, Bain doesn’t sound concerned, nor do the teams he has spoken to, about the narrative that has surrounded him since draft season kicked off. He was also quoted as saying the team that selects him “will get the best player in the draft.”
My analysis
Bain is a clear match with the Chiefs’ scheme under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He is a powerful player, whether it’s violently shedding blocks or overwhelming pass blockers. He is certainly the edge-setting, pocket-crushing edge defender that Spagnuolo has valued in a three-down starter at defensive end.
In these clips, the power in his hands is showcased. He controls blocks off the line and has the strength to suddenly swim or redirect his hands as he maintains pressure towards the pocket. His stature gives him natural leverage on the bull rush, and he will get an offensive tackle rolling back on skates if they don’t bring legitimate momentum to the block engagement.
With his well-known advantage of power, Bain can set up his outside rushes for success, but he executes with impressively efficient technique to turn the corner quickly. He easily swats away blockers’ hands as he approaches the edge, but he also uses the underwhelming height to seamlessly dip into the back of the pocket, even if the tackle is still engaged with half of him.
Bain is on the attack throughout a game, but these plays were the final two snaps of Miami’s win over Notre Dame to start the 2025 season. On the first play, he paces outside before using a “hump” move that the late, Hall of Fame NFL defensive lineman Reggie White made famous in his heyday.
He is more of the clean-up crew on the second sack, but it’s clear he has a strong feel for how to work an offensive tackle one-on-one in an obvious passing situation like the two-minute drill or a third and long.
It could be wishful thinking of the mock drafts to continuously have him available at the ninth-overall pick, but there’s a reason he rarely slips past that for many in draft media. Bain would be a great fit with the Chiefs, so it makes sense the team took the time to meet with him.
