The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Rueben Bain Jr. with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team was ecstatic to have Bain fall into their laps, and he’s made a strong first impression early in his career.
Excitement for the rookie is already through the roof, and he just took things to another level with his recent comments.
Rueben Bain tells Bucs fans to get their popcorn ready for his rookie season
Bain made a big community appearance earlier this week, throwing out the first pitch at the Tampa Bay Rays game.
While at Tropicana Field, he spoke with Rock Riley of WDAE radio, and promised Bucs fans that 2026 will be a must-watch season.
“It’s going to be a great year,” Bain told Riley, via JoeBucsFan. “Get your popcorn ready. Get your tickets ready.”
Bucs fans are hoping Bain can live up to the hype. The pass rush has been dreadful in recent years, and Tampa Bay hasn't had a player record double-digit sacks since Shaq Barrett did it back in 2021.
Last year, his elite 92.5 PFF grade ranked third among all 852 defensive ends in the nation. His 67 QB pressures ranked second in the nation.
In three seasons at Miami, Bain recorded 20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles.
Bain is expected to carry that impact to the pros and be a true game changer, serving as a catalyst for a defensive transformation in Tampa Bay.
The rookie certainly doesn’t lack confidence, and the Buccaneers are hoping he can follow through and deliver a rookie season for the ages.
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