Buccaneers Landed Sneaky Good Draft Pick in Rueben Bain Jr.

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft kicked off in Pittsburgh on Thursday, and it brought plenty of fanfare.

Now, the event continues for two days on Friday and Saturday, but most of the top 32 college players have been chosen.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the No. 15 pick in the draft, so they were smack dap in the middle of NFL teams. Now, Michael Middlehurst of USA Today has released his grades for the first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft.

Taking a pick at No. 15 is always a bit sticky, because the top players are gone but you still have a good roster left. But, the Buccaneers knocked this choice out of the park by getting Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. Middlehurst gives it an A grade.

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“Bain lasted longer than many might have thought, and the Buccaneers pulled off what might go down as one of the draft’s best value moves,” Middlehurst states in the piece. “Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to sort out its edge rush for some time, so bringing aboard the most disruptive force in college football should be a clear win for Jason Licht and Todd Bowles.”

He adds: “The arm length debate might have cost Bain on draft night, but here’s betting he can navigate it to remain a persistent pest with the Bucs. This could become the defensive equivalent of the Emeka Egbuka pick with a rapid payoff.”

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Thoughts on Rueben Bain Jr. to the Bucs

Having a solid edge can make all the difference on a team. Why else are defensive ends like Will Anderson Jr. and Trey Hendrickson among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL?

By securing a solid edge in the draft, the Buccaneers have saved themselves some cash down the road. They’ve also finally gotten a handle on their edge situation, which has been an issue for them for a while now. So, yes, this is an A pick.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 2:28 PM.