The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked away with the biggest steal of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in Rueben Bain Jr.
At his press conference after making the pick, Bucs General Manager Jason Licht said the front office was just as excited as the fan base about the surprising pick.
Mood in Tampa Bay 😤 pic.twitter.com/Kmb4a6XMGs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 24, 2026
“We think very highly of him obviously, think he’s a great player. There were very few scenarios where we thought he’d be there,” said Licht. “We’re very excited. I’ve probably never seen a more excited draft room.”
Not in a million years did the #Bucs think Rueben Bain was actually going to get to 15. Got maybe the best pass rusher in the class without moving a spot.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) April 24, 2026
Licht went on to rave about Bain’s pass rush skill set and his pedigree after being coached up by Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor at Miami.
Bain totaled 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2025. Over the course of his career, he recorded 20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. He’s an immediate impact player for a Tampa Bay team that desperately needed a player of his caliber.
When asked what convinced the organization that Bain was a fit for the Buccaneers, Licht gave the perfect answer that will have fans excited.
“His passion for the game, his passion to be the best. We like his edge that he brings out there, and you know, the guy practices the same way that he plays. Football is one of the most important things in his life,” said Licht.
It sure sounds like the Bucs just landed a player that represents everything they’ve been looking for on the defensive side of the ball. A dominant pass rusher that also brings passion and a nasty demeanor is going to make the defense worlds better in 2026 and beyond.