Rueben Bain Jr. dominated college football last season and entered this year’s draft as one of the best prospects. He played a huge role in Miami’s run to the national championship game and posted 20.5 career sacks. However, none of that has silenced the debate about his arms.
Now, ESPN analyst Field Yates believes there is a possibility that Bain will not be a top-12 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rueben Bain Jr.’s Production Makes the Case for His Top-10 Selection
Bain’s 30 7/8-inch arm length, measured at the NFL Combine, ranks as the third-shortest among edge rushers since 1999. His arm length has become the defining storyline of his pre-draft process, and Yates has added fuel to the fire with a bold prediction.
“Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. will go outside the top 12 picks,” Yates wrote. “Bain is an exceptional player, and there is no shortage of teams with a pass rush need to pick in the first 12 spots. But he is going to be an outlier in the first round, as the first edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms to get picked there.”
“There are some scouts who are skeptical of a team taking an outlier super early,” Yates added. “The teams that could take a chance are the Saints, Chiefs and Bengals (Nos. 8-10, respectively), but there’s a chance he’s still there in the teens.”
The irony in the narrative around Bain is that his film tells a different story than his measurements. He recorded 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 54 total tackles during his 2025 campaign, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. His postseason run was even more dominant, as he recorded 5 sacks across 3 games.
The track record for short-armed edge rushers is admittedly thin. No edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms has ever been drafted inside the top 100 since measurement tracking began. Bain would be the first, which is precisely why some teams are hesitant.
Yates identified the Saints, Chiefs, and Bengals at picks 8-10 as teams that could take a chance on Bain. For Kansas City, the fit is particularly compelling, as the Chiefs were tied for the fifth-worst team sack total last season with just 35.
George Karlaftis led the edge group with 6 sacks, but Kansas City lost Charles Omenihu to the Washington Commanders, and the departure leaves a clear void opposite Karlaftis.
Kansas City hosted Bain for a top-30 visit earlier in the month, signaling legitimate interest. Pairing Bain with Karlaftis and seven-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones would give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a formidable front.
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If Bain slides past the Saints at eight, the Chiefs could land a top-tier pass rusher without trading up. For a franchise retooling after a 6-11 season, a player of his caliber can be crucial for the next iteration of their dynasty.
Bain is currently the sixth-ranked prospect on PFSN’s Big Board and has an average draft position of 8.1 on PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
