For many teams in the NFL, all eyes are on the offseason for roster upgrades. It can get expensive to find answers in free agency, but the NFL Draft is another story. An excellent draft class can turn around a franchise, and for teams selecting early, Rueben Bain Jr. would be the perfect start in getting that done.
If a QB No Longer an Option, Would an AFC Team Pivot in the First Round?
Entering the draft process, there are concerns that Bain Jr.’s arm length will be a massive issue in the NFL. It’s expected that teams may view him extremely low due to this issue, but based on what he does on the field, he is worth a top pick.
Many teams at the top of the draft could be very interested in the Miami defensive lineman, including the New York Jets.
In PFSN Analyst Jacob Infante’s new 7-round mock Draft, with the #2 overall pick in the draft, the Jets selected Bain. Here is Infante’s explanation of the selection “Do the New York Jets resist the urge to reach for a quarterback just for the sake of taking one? It’s clear they need to move on from Justin Fields, but Ty Simpson is arguably too steep for a No. 2 selection. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they opt for a defensive player, presumably adding a veteran stopgap at quarterback instead.”
Going away from QB was never a consideration when the Jets finished with the 2nd pick in the draft, but once Oregon QB Dante Moore announced his return to CFB, the Jets may not have a choice. As Infante mentions, Alabama QB Ty Simpson could be an option, but at this moment, it would be a reach. Also, with the 2027 QB class in consideration, going a different direction would make sense in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, onto the prospect, this is what Infante said about Bain Jr.
“Rueben Bain Jr. is a powerful edge rusher who accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage. Bain Jr. maintains a low center of gravity at the point of attack, he converts speed to power well, and he has a deep arsenal of moves he can string together to shed blocks. He’s arguably been the best pure edge rusher in college football this year and is easily one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.”
The Jets have an important offseason ahead of them, and selecting at the top of the draft next season can not happen again. One way they can stop that from happening is by having a great draft, and Bain Jr. could be the best defensive player on the roster day 1.
