quote:
Miami’s Rueben Bain was arguably the most dominant defensive player in college football. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound edge rusher annihilated offenses in the Canes’ College Football Playoff run, but his 30 7/8 inch arms, it has been noted extensively, would be the shortest of any first-round defensive lineman in modern draft history.

Bain was involved in an auto accident in 2024, where a passenger later died from injuries sustained in the crash. Bain was cited for careless driving, but it was eventually dismissed, and he was never charged in connection with the accident. NFL teams have been aware of the incident for some time, and it didn’t sound like it has affected anyone’s feelings about Bain.

“Any time you get a guy who falls outside of that range (of measurables) where they don’t check that one box, you’ve just gotta spend a little more time on them and go back and watch them against real guys,” said one NFL scout. “I’m not worried about it. He’s just so strong and has top-end bend, and to be that powerful and have that kind of slip, he’s just a really natural player. He does a good job of keeping guys’ hands off of him. Will it rear its head more at our level against some of the creatures on the offensive line? Probably, but I still think he’s gonna be a really good player. He really sets the edge and plays with such violence.

“I haven’t heard anyone take the stance that they don’t like Rueben Bain. He definitely is an outlier. But if you work the (arm) argument backwards, why is this guy worthy of making an exception? Watch the film. He proves it time and time again.”

The NFL personnel director also said he wasn’t concerned about Bain’s short arms: “He is so powerful and to be that thick in his lower body to be that flexible is pretty rare.”

There was some concern about Bain’s transition to the NFL because of his arm length from defensive line coaches.

“His arm length does scare me, especially against tackles,” said DL coach No. 1. “He ain’t gonna be able to get into them. I think his get-off is really good and his bend is crazy, especially for a square-shaped guy. You’d think he’d be more top-heavy, but his bend is like Nik Bonitto-crazy. But I do think he will struggle right away because he has to be the aggressor. These guys will put their hands out there and wall you off. You gotta be the aggressor in everything you do. He’s got a good speed to power, and that has to be his go-to.”

Another coach has some skepticism about Bain because he struggled to find a good comp from the league.

“I really, really like the player,” said DL coach No. 2. “He’s in like the 2 percentile in the history of modern football. How many 10-sack guys have 30 1/2-inch arms (30 7/8)? He doesn’t look like very many guys in our league. He’s powerful, good with his hands and can really bend. That all translates, but it’s the length when you’re going against guys that are 6-6, 330 pounds. Are they gonna cover him up cause he can’t get them off his body? But he’s such a good player, I think he’s still gonna go top 10.”

In the past 25 years, there have been some ultra-productive edge players whose arms were only 32 inches. Trey Hendrickson has been to four Pro Bowls; Terrell Suggs had 139 career sacks; Jared Allen has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But does that inch and an eighth make that big of a difference?

“He plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said DL coach No. 3. “He just plays so hard that the short arms really don’t matter, and it didn’t affect him in college. His get-off is so good that it allows him to compensate. His motor really allows him to get away with it. I don’t think it’s gonna be an issue for him.”

“I know they talk about his arm length a lot, but he’s so powerful,” said DL coach No. 4. “He plays the run game the best and he still has a lot of upside. He’s still rushing off raw ability. Once he gets his technique down, he can go to another level. He will create separation with his power.”

I expect Bain to be the third edge rusher selected, behind Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey (it’s a toss-up which of those two is drafted first). I see them, along with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, as the best prospects in this class.

the athletic

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Posted by WicKed WayZ

Louisiana Forever

Member since Sep 2011

34030 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 12:07 pm to L.A.

Appreciate you posting but this is literally nothing new. Just confirms teams are all over the place on him

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Posted by LooseCannon22282

South Alabama Fan

Member since May 2008

35844 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 12:10 pm to L.A.

I would be kind of surprised if the Saints did pick him.

typically they go for guys that test well and well he didn't participate in everything but neither did a few other players. he wasn't the only one.

I believe he just did individual defensive lineman drills

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Posted by BilJ

Member since Sep 2003

162750 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 1:19 pm to WicKed WayZ

just one of those where a team has to decide if Bain is an outlier and can overcome his measurable shortcomings

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Posted by ipodking

#StopTalkingAboutWomensSports

Member since Jun 2008

58908 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 2:24 pm to L.A.

Bain is the opposite of what Staley likes at Edge

No shot he’s the pick at #8

This post was edited on 4/20/26 at 2:25 pm

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Posted by Athis

I AM Charlie Kirk....

Member since Aug 2016

16284 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 6:47 pm to L.A.

Bain won't be there when the Saints pick.. And I hope the Saints don't trade up to pick him... If he is there at 8 and the Saints pick him I will do nude cart wheels on Canal Street...

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Posted by jkylejohnson

Louisiana

Member since Dec 2016

14813 posts

Posted on 4/20/26 at 7:14 pm to ipodking