In the perennial debate of NFL draft scouting, the battle lines are almost always drawn between evaluators who worship physical measurables and those who simply prefer to “trust the tape.”
During a recent mock draft breakdown, analyst Jordan Reid firmly planted his flag in the latter camp regarding defensive standout Rueben Bain Jr. It was a steadfast evaluation that ultimately earned Reid some prehistoric mockery from his colleague, Matt Miller.
Why Draft Analysts ‘Trust the Tape’ With Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.
On the NFL on ESPN recently, several analysts joined Mike Greenberg to break down the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. He was joined by Reid and Miller, as well as Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr.
Reid’s picks began to follow a curious pattern: most of the players he selected are currently being downgraded due to their arm length. That included WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and KC Concepcion, CB Mansoor Delane, and OT Spencer Fano.
This topic is similar to the one surrounding Kenny Pickett and his hand size several years ago. What matters more, the measuring tape or what you see on tape?
Reid’s assessment of Bain was overwhelmingly positive, heavily highlighting the prospect’s undeniable impact in high-pressure situations against top-tier competition. PFSN’s EDGE Impact Metric ranked Bain 15th in college football, with a score of 82.7.
“Another player that stood out throughout the duration of the college football playoff. Whenever they needed him to make a play, Rueben Bain showed up in big moments,” Reid noted. “And that happened throughout the season as well. It wasn’t necessarily just in the college football playoff.”
While Bain’s on-field production is practically undisputed, the glaring issue regarding his professional draft stock is his professional physical profile. Reid openly addressed the primary concern, acknowledging that Bain’s arms are “historically short” for a player at his position.
However, he adamantly refused to let a player’s film be overshadowed by a tape measure. Comparing Bain to Philadelphia Eagles veteran edge rusher Brandon Graham, Reid painted the picture of a versatile, relentless disruptor.
“I think they are very similar players as far as somebody that can rush off of the edge consistently, but also in those sub packages and late down situations, you can kick him inside,” Reid explained. “He is a player that has very heavy hands. He’s very twitchy coming off of the edge as well.”
When Greenberg pressed Reid about his willingness to completely ignore those physical red flags, Reid doubled down on his personal scouting philosophy.
“No, I’m not [living by measurables]. I mean, I get it. He’s a historic outlier, but I’m just going to continue to trust what I’ve seen on tape with him, and he’s a player that I just can’t pass over at this point,” Reid affirmed.
It was at this exact moment that the serious scouting analysis took a highly comedic turn. Miller couldn’t resist taking a jab at Reid’s overall strategy and his clear willingness to overlook reach length across the board.
“Hey, Jordan. If you need any help with a mascot for your team, it could be a T-Rex because every guy you’ve drafted has short arms,” Miller quipped.
Greenberg quickly piled on, referencing his time working alongside former NFL head coach and defensive guru Rex Ryan.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
“I sit next to Rex Ryan two days a week. I can tell you right now, he would hate your team. He does not like anybody with short arms,” Greenberg added.
Whether Bain eventually becomes the next Graham or struggles to translate his game to Sundays remains to be seen. However, Reid is more than willing to bet on the undeniable production, even if it means fielding a team full of T-Rexes.
