Can you ever have enough pass rushers? Former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi says “No”.
But does that mean the 2026 Giants should use the fifth overall pick to select one if they have the opportunity? They may just have to make that decision if Miami Hurricanes defensive end and edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. isn’t selected in the first four picks.
Bain Jr. was arguably the best edge defender in college football last year and plays a violent brand of bullying football that reminds of Giants’ defenders of yore. However, the Giants are already heavily invested in their defensive front with first round picks galore.
Is it worth it to add yet another highly drafted pass rusher to send waves of defenders after opposing quarterbacks, or can you in fact have too many pass rushers?
Prospect: Rueben Bain Jr. (4)
Games Watched: vs. Florida (2025), vs. Louisville (2025), vs. Ohio State (2025), vs. Indiana (2026)
Red Flags: None
Measurables
Strengths
Best traits
- Competitive toughness
- Play strength
- Pass rush
- Technique
- Run defense
Rueben Bain Jr. is a compact, powerful edge defender who’s stocky frame belies surprising explosiveness and fluidity.
Bain is a short edge defender at 6-foot-2, but has a dense build at 263 pounds. He has impressive thickness in his upper and lower halves and plays with all the power you’d expect from his frame. He has great play strength as well as explosive power and puts both to work against blockers. Bain is able to put lone blockers on skates, driving them into the backfield when he rushes with leverage, and is even able to hold up to double teams on the edge.
Bain is a skilled technician as a pass rusher, employing a variety of moves that play to his raw power as well as his explosiveness and surprising quickness. He routinely rushes with a plan, setting up blockers over the course of the game, as well as coming with a plan to pair primary and counter moves. He understands how to use his quickness and agility to exploit blockers preparing for power moves, and vice versa.
He is also a very capable run defender, able to make plays in the backfield as well as control blockers so his teammates can flow to the ball.
Above all, however, is the fact that Bain is a nasty, fiery competitor. He gives outstanding effort all game long and plays the game in such a way that he almost appears angry when he doesn’t make a play. Bain seems to relish the opportunity to hit offensive players, and that extends to anyone attempting to block him.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Arm length
- Long speed
The conversation regarding Rueben Bain will always center around his arm length – unless, of course, he proves it isn’t an issue in the NFL.
Bain’s arms are in the bottom 1 percent of arm length for a defensive end or edge defender, and will almost certainly fall below every team’s thresholds. That doesn’t have a significant impact on the tape viewed, and he’s able to compensate against offensive tackles with technique. However, he’ll be going against better technicians as well as bigger, longer athletes at the NFL level. It does have more of an impact on Bain’s ability to bring down ball carriers, as he has a relatively small tackle radius. He struggles to make plays off of blockers in quite the same way that longer edge defenders are able to do.
Outside of arm length, Bain lacks great long speed. His short, stocky frame gives him very good acceleration, however he reaches top speed quickly and it isn’t particularly impressive. He plays with a wide-open motor, however he might not catch many ball carriers from behind in the open field.
Game Tape
(Bain Jr. is the Miami defensive end wearing number 4.)
Projection
Rueben Bain Jr. projects as a starting edge defender with scheme versatility at the NFL level.
His natural position is likely as a defensive end in a four-man front, however he has the athleticism to rush from a 2-point stance in a 3-4 or hybrid scheme. Bain also has the power and leverage (and mentality) to move inside and rush as a defensive tackle on obvious passing downs.
His arm length will be a topic of discussion in all 32 draft rooms, and will likely have a big impact on his draft stock. However, it’s also certainly possible that Bain’s other traits – competitive toughness, play strength, athleticism, technique – will continue to compensate at the NFL level.
Does he fit the Giants? Yes, value permitting
Final Word: A first-round pick
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