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Todd McShay

Find the most comprehensive analysis on [Player Name], featuring Todd McShay’s evaluations. Official measurables, advanced analytics, and a scout’s eye provide the most in-depth breakdown of a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses, NFL draft projection, and potential at the next level.

Edge

Rueben Bain Jr.

Grade92 /100
Pos Rank3
OVR Rank11
School
MIA

Experience

Played38
Started36

POSITION STATS LAST SEASON

Sacks
9.5
TFL
15.5
Tackles
54
FF
1
PBU
1
Todd McShay

Position-Specific Grades

COMBINE RESULTS

Height
6' 2 1/4"
Weight
263lbs
Todd McShay
ARM
30 7/8"
Todd McShay
HAND
9 1/8"

The Takeaway

The Player

Bain is a thickly built, power-based edge rusher with violent hands who’s an elite run defender and a highly disruptive pass rusher. He racked up 54 tackles, 15.5 TFL, and 9.5 sacks along with a forced fumble and an INT in 2025 and really peaked during the Hurricanes’ run to the CFP championship game. 

He has impressive burst, bend, and flexibility given his thick frame. His combination of short-area burst and power, violent hands, and relentless motor translates well to the NFL, regardless of any concerns about his short arms. He’s a freight train on obvious passing downs. I’m impressed by his wide array of pass rush moves, mostly power based, including his Reggie White hump move. He finished his college career with 20.5 sacks and had 83 QB pressures in 2025, tied for the most ever in a season since 2014, according to PFF.

Bain’s versatility is a major asset. He lines up all along the defensive front. The most underrated aspect of his game is his ball location versus the run. He’s really committed to gap and scheme discipline. Bain’s short arms will concern some NFL personnel. He also lacks some suddenness and leaves tackles and sacks on the field because of his less than ideal redirect quickness.

The Draft

Teams are all over the board on Bain. Most draft boards have Arvell Reese and David Bailey graded higher. Some teams view Bain as the clear-cut no. 3 edge prospect and a top-15 lock, while others don’t view him as highly due to his arm length limitations and position-fit concerns. I’m in the former camp and will be shocked if he’s not a top-15 pick. His short arms (30 7/8 inches) are the biggest concern when it comes to his projection as a high-impact edge in the NFL. NFL teams don’t like outliers—no player with sub-31-inch arms has produced double-digit sacks in a season for the past 20 seasons. Bain will also have the shortest arms of any first-round edge selected during that span.   

The Projection

Former Ravens All-Pro Terrell Suggs faced questions about his squatty frame, shorter arms, and marginal speed coming out of Arizona State in 2003. Now he’s a Hall of Fame finalist. Bain might not reach quite that level, but he grades out as a high-end NFL starter. The team that drafts Bain must know how to deploy him and play to his strengths. His impact as a rookie should be similar to Jared Verse’s in 2024 (full-time starter with 66 tackles, 11 TFL, and 4.5 sacks).