It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to address their pass rush early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The inability to rush the passer and disrupt opposing quarterbacks was the team’s Achilles heel over the last few years.
Tampa Bay hadn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks since Shaq Barrett did it back in 2021. But in a matter of just one pick, the defensive identity has been flipped on its head as Tampa Bay drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round.
Buccaneers draft Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 in 2026 NFL Draft
Bain recorded 20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss, and an interception during his college career. He set a new career-high with 9.5 sacks in 2025.
His 67 pressures ranked second in the entire nation last season, and he proved to be one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football, and was a key part in Miami reaching the College Football National Championship Game.
Bain comes to Tampa Bay with high expectations that he’ll be the savior the pass rush has been waiting for.
Adding Bain to a front four with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and YaYa Diaby has suddenly formed a formidable and dangerous defensive front that opposing offenses will have to fear.
The best part of all is that Bain was widely expected to be selected in the top-ten. The Buccaneers reportedly initially wanted to trade back, but that plan went out the window when a player of Bain’s caliber was still somehow on the board for the taking.
The Bucs still have to address some other needs on the defense before this draft is a success, particularly at inside linebacker, but that’s a problem for tomorrow. They’re 1-for-1 so far, with an A+ pick to kick things off.