Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. stirred up headlines at the NFL Scouting Combine when his arms measured at 30 7/8 inches, the third-lowest recorded arm length for an edge at the combine since 1999. According to Jason La Canfora, though, NFL teams and top personnel evaluators seem to care far less about the measurement than the media does. 
A source that La Canfora described as “a top personnel evaluator with a proven track record” claimed that Bain’s arm length doesn’t tell the real story of his body type. Another evaluator asserted his focus on Bain’s wingspan differential or ape index, a measurement that focuses on arm length in proportion to the rest of a player’s body by subtracting their height from the combined length of their arms. Another stated plainly that “his arms are not going to be a problem.”
Multiple evaluators La Canfora communicated with thought Bain stood as good a chance as any of the other top few picks at landing in the No. 2 overall slot. They pointed to Bain’s maturity while at the same time valuing how much younger he is than other top pass rushers who utilized the transfer portal in college. There appears to be a growing sense that the people making Draft Day decisions prize Bain more than those who specialize in mock drafts, as La Canfora puts it.
One of those mock draft, college football experts in the media, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, had Bain far from the No. 2 overall pick in his most recent mock draft two weeks ago. Brugler continues to push the media narrative that Bain “remains a polarizing prospect among NFL teams,” claiming “he’s got a lot of fans and plenty of critics.” Brugler has the Hurricanes pass rusher going ninth overall to the Chiefs, with whom he would have a golden opportunity to learn alongside stellar defensive lineman Chris Jones.
With just over a month to go until the 2026 NFL Draft, utilizing only the two sources above, the NFL-media disconnect on Bain spans seven draft picks — from No. 2 to No. 9. Regardless of the potential for varying opinions, it seems even his biggest detractors don’t have Bain falling very far past the top 10, if that far at all. Somebody will be taking a chance on the Miami product on Day 1 of the draft. It only remains to be seen how far into the first round that will happen.
I think he’s going to be at least very good as a pro. The arm length thing is a little worrisome just because it’s such an outlier, but I think there’s very little chance he busts unless he gets bad injury luck. He’s just too strong, too powerful. It’s like Jared Verse was. When an edge rusher looks like a man among boys in college, even against the best competition, and he has actual pass rushing skills, that’s probably going to translate. And he isn’t even 22 yet. Sign me up.
Yeah, before the College Football Playoff I had a few questions about Bain, due to Miami being in the ACC, but once he co ti ied to wreck shop in the playoffs that calmed some of the questions I had about Bain and proved he is a great EDGE prospect any team would be lucky to draft.
I can easily see Bain carving out an NFL career that soans eight to ten years, averaging 8-9 sacks a year, with plenty of QB hits and pressures to ultimately end up one of the game’s more consistent EDGE presences.
In this draft I think you have five to six locks as players who will make an immediate impact, and who will become franchise leaders for the next seven to eight years.
RB J.Love
OG O.Ioane
S C.Downs
EDGE R.Bain Jr.
CB M.Delane
LB A.Hill Jr.
J.Love has the talent and all the tools necessary to become one of the league’s next great running backs, but he HAS TO stay healthy. I am a little bit leary he can consistently stay healthy, but I hope he proves me wrong, because when he is on the field he is electric!
I also think countless analysts and so called experts are sleeping on Texas’ off-ball LB Anthony Hill Jr. Most will be wowed by Styles’ combine and athletic traits, but Anthony Hill Jr. is the far superior LB. You cannot teach his instincts and high football IQ, and that plus his athleticism is how he’s going to separate himself from his peers at the next level. I think anyone who takes Styles over Hill most likely will be regretting that decision teo to three years down the road. That isn’t a knock on Styles; moreso, that is just how confident I am in Anthony Hill Jr.’s skillset and his ability to impact the game.
I like Hill’s upside, but I think Styles is much more ready to play linebacker in the pros right now.
‘…A source that La Canfora described as “a top personnel evaluator with a proven track record”…’ What’s his SB count stand at? Put your name to it.
As they should be. Guy’s gonna be great.
Raiders 1. QB Mendoza
Jets 2. EDGE Bailey
Cardinals 3. OT Mauigoa
Titans 4. EDGE Bain
Keep cooking
Desire and determination to succeed outweigh any physical measurements but there simply isn’t any way to quantify that metric.
My Bengals took Shemar Stewart last year because of his great measurables, but he sucked in college and then sucked his rookie year. I would much rather take someone who has proven production than someone who looks the part. My top 4 choices for the Bengals number 10 pick are Downs, Styles, Delane, Bain.