Rueben Bain Jr. has been a bit of a polarizing prospect early in the 2026 NFL Draft process.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has shared that he heard from some scouts who view him more as a second-round draft pick due to his arm length. Other projections have him as a clear-cut top 10 draft selection.
Bain was highly productive during the 2025 season with 9.5 sacks. He had a tremendous 30.3% win rate on true pass sets this year. He is a power rusher with a thick lower half that is just as good playing
against the run as he is rushing the passer.
Bain officially met with the Cincinnati Bengals at the NFL Scouting Combine. He said he thought the visit went well. He even left the team with this message: “I eat, sleep, and breathe football. I have no hobbies.”
That is the type of message, along with his play on the field, that will have teams wanting to get him in their building. If Bain lasts until pick 10, we should fully expect the Bengals to strongly consider making him the pick.
