The Bucs wasted no time ensuring that first spherical decide edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was formally on the Bucs. Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Instances, Bain signed his rookie contract on Thursday only a day forward of Bucs rookie mini-camp. Bain is the primary participant within the Bucs’ 2026 draft class to signal his rookie deal. It’s a four-year contract with a fifth-year staff possibility, as is customized for first spherical picks.
Bucs first spherical decide Rueben Bain Jr. has signed his rookie contract which is 4 years with a membership possibility.
Tampa Bay chosen Bain fifteenth general on this 12 months’s draft. It was a shock that he fell that far, however a profit for the Bucs as they have been in big want of an edge rusher. Bain was extremely coveted as arguably the perfect edge rusher on this 12 months’s draft class.
New Bucs OLB Bain Will get To Keep In Florida Going From Miami To Tampa
Born and raised in Miami earlier than happening to star for the Miami Hurricanes, Bain is a 6-foot-2, 263-pound menace off the sting. He’s densely constructed and makes use of an immense quantity of energy on the level of assault, and he’s an impressive run defender besides. Whereas he has a softer-spoken demeanor off the sphere, he brings a relentless angle to the sphere and put collectively a powerful three-year collegiate profession.
He was a Freshman All-American and the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Yr in 2023 after enjoying in 13 video games (beginning 11) and posting 7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and three compelled fumbles. He then dipped down to three.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss over 9 video games as a sophomore earlier than changing into a consensus All-American and the ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr as a junior in 2025. In his third and remaining 12 months with the Hurricanes, Bain totaled 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, a compelled fumble and an interception.
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures – Mark J. Rebilas
Bain, who doesn’t flip 22 years outdated till simply earlier than the 2026 season opener, turns into the thirteenth draft pick of the College of Miami in Buccaneer historical past. He’s the primary since operating again Mike James within the sixth spherical of the 2013 NFL Draft and the primary Hurricanes defender to be chosen by Tampa Bay since linebacker Nate Webster within the third spherical of the 2000 Draft.
Bucs Revamped OLB Room With Rueben Bain Jr. And Firm
With the addition of a first-round decide in Rueben Bain Jr., the Bucs simply made an enormous splash on the exterior linebacker place heading into 2026. The previous Miami Hurricane joins a room led by a fourth-year professional in Yaya Diaby and veteran newcomer Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Deeper down the depth chart are 2025 fourth-round decide David Walker—who the Bucs are extraordinarily excessive on—in addition to veteran Anthony Nelson and former second-round decide Chris Braswell.
On the floor, it will appear as if that’s the finished room for Tampa Bay. However with Braswell failing to develop a lot over his first two seasons, his spot is much from assured. And given the depth of this 12 months’s draft class at exterior linebacker, there’s no sense in ruling out the potential of the Bucs including one other go rusher earlier than the weekend is over.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In any case, the go rush has been a disappointment for Todd Bowles’ protection in recent times, and it hit a brand new low in 2025. The staff’s 37 complete sacks turned its lowest mark within the Bowles period, which dates again to 2019. So, heading into the 2026 offseason, the objective was to bolster the go rush — and particularly the four-man go rush.
The primary addition was Muhammad, who notched a career-high 11 sacks for the Lions final 12 months. And with a premium decide within the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bucs have added one other go rusher with a excessive ceiling in Rueben Bain Jr., who has double-digit sack potential on the subsequent stage together with his fast get-off, violent strategy and his robust palms. His go rush arsenal consists of membership, swim and swat methods and has a novel mix of energy and bend that offers him uncommon upside that quite a lot of different edge rushers on this 12 months’s class lacked.
Bain realized below Miami defensive ends coach Jason Taylor, a Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer who totaled 139.5 sacks in his profession and made six Professional Bowls and three All-Professional groups. That definitely helped the Miami product as he developed over three years right into a top-15 decide within the NFL Draft.
Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture by: Mikayla Oliveira – The College of Miami
Tampa Bay’s first spherical decide will head to Tampa and look to rework the Buccaneer go rush alongside Yaya Diaby, a fellow ACC product who will definitely be thrilled to have some extra assist off the sting. Moreover Diaby beginning at edge rusher, the opposite beginning exterior linebacker spot is up for grabs in the mean time.
Finally it will likely be Bain’s spot, however Muhammad will probably be an element and will doubtlessly begin there earlier than Bain fills in. Bain is predicted to be an enormous motive why the Bucs’ protection returns to type this season. They’ve been ravenous for an elite edge rusher, and with Bain they could have it once more with him serving to this group.
