The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 overall after he shockingly fell into their laps during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Bain was already known as a motivated player that plays with a chip on his shoulder, but falling to No. 15 after being projected as a top-ten pick will only add more fuel to the fire.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht knows the type of character he drafted, and is already trying to use it to his advantage as a motivating factor for his newest draft choice.
Jason Licht formally introduces Rueben Bain to Bucs-Saints rivalry
During Bain’s introductory press conference, Bain was asked about being passed over by the Miami Dolphins despite being a standout player right in their backyard at the University of Miami.
Never wasting an opportunity to stir the pot of the Bucs-Saints rivalry, Licht turned to Bain and said, “Just so you know, the Saints passed on you.”
Jason Licht made it a point during Rueben Bain’s introductory press conference to remind Bain that the Saints passed on him.
— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) April 24, 2026
Licht wasting no time bringing Bain into the Bucs-Saints NFC South rivalry! pic.twitter.com/a0A4KrdKV0
“Yeah. They did,” said Bain, along with a villainous chuckle straight out of a movie.
Bain is soft spoken, but his reply spoke volumes. He’s ready to unleash on the Saints twice a year and prove them wrong for passing up on him.
Bain already made it clear he loves his teammates, and hates everyone else. That’s music to Bucs fans’ ears.
Bringing the edge to Tampa Bay 🤬 pic.twitter.com/8i3n1nQAHn
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 24, 2026
He brings the exact kind of nasty demeanor the Bucs defense has been missing in recent years, and he’s going to transform the attitude and energy of the defense as a whole.
The Saints, and really any team playing the Buccaneers, better brace themselves for Bain’s wrath.
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