Where you land matters. When it comes to a pair of former Miami Hurricanes stars, Rueben Bain Jr. and Keionte Scott are not going to have to do it alone. Bain was the No. 15 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. Two days later, Scott joined this motley crew over in Gulf Coast Florida. Tampa Bay is still a playoff-viable team in the NFC South, but this franchise needs a big boost.
Miami is ecstatic to see another one of its former Hurricanes stars off to go play for the Buccaneers.
An elite playmaker, leader, and person.
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 25, 2026
With the 116th pick of the 2026 #NFLDraft, the @Buccaneers select Keionte Scott! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2kSF1nc6kN
Tampa Bay knew exactly what it was doing by bringing Scott into the mix of their revamped defense.
From The U to Tampa Bay, Keionte Scott is a Buccaneer 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cV1sVryxRd
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 25, 2026
Together, Bain and Scott will have to keep this downward-trending franchise above water this seaon.
Keionte Scott and Rueben Bain Jr. are Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates
Prior to last year, the Buccaneers had a stranglehold over the NFC South. Rivals Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans were in various stages of rebuilding and total dysfunction. However, Tampa Bay has seen its roster age rapidly over the last few years, as well as coordinator attrition do a number to its offense. Meanwhile, defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles is trying to hold on to his job this fall.
With Jason Licht not hitting on as many picks as he did in recent years, he is banking on the notion of production when it comes to this Miami pairing. Bain has elite pass-rushing skills, while Scott has a knack for finding the football in the back-end of the defense. In a way, their arrivals in Tampa Bay may take some much-needed pressure off Baker Mayfield in him having to do everything while on offense.
At this time, Tampa Bay needs to lean in on its organizational savviness to keep the likes of Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans at bay. Yes, Carolina won the division a year ago, but the Panthers did so as a sub-.500 team. Atlanta may have the most talented roster in the division, but the Falcons are so dysfunctional... New Orleans was a bottom-feeder to start last season, before really making strides.
Overall, how the likes of Bain and Scott jell on defense will determine if the Buccaneers will have any staying power in this fluctuating division moving forward. If both play up to their potential, Tampa Bay can host a home playoff game as soon as this upcoming January. Should neither be as good as they were in college, we may potentially see the Buccaneers fading into the back of future divisional races.
For now, those who are Miami and Tampa Bay fans should be over the moon about these two picks.
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