Rueben Bain Jr. makes bold statement about where he ranks in the 2026 NFL Draft

This does not have to be this hard. While this may not be the most captivating NFL Draft in quite some time, there is one player who is not going to bust in the first round. That would be former Miami Hurricanes star edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. No matter where he goes, he is going to get his. Barring injuries, he should have a highly fruitful career at the next level. How high will he be picked, though?

Well, Bain did not beat around the bush when he spoke with Rich Eisen while at the NFL Combine...

"I'm the best defensive player in the draft, the best in the country. I feel like you can see from my energy, my motor, my want-to, how I approach the game, each game. Now matter what the opportunities or the odds stacked against us, I just wanted to lead my team in the right direction and to have a dominant showcase."

Here is what Bain had to say to Eisen while appearing on The Rich Eisen Show live from Indianapolis.

At this time, the only player who should come off the board before Bain would be Fernando Mendoza.

Rueben Bain Jr. believes he is the best defensive player in the NFL Draft

As stated above, this is not going to be an NFL Draft for the ages. That being said, there are a few position groups that stand out among the rest. This looks to be a great draft for edge rushers and defensive linemen, as well as standup linebackers, and big bodies along the offensive line. Yes, there may be some interesting wide receivers, but next year is when you should be drafting a quarterback.

However, we all know the writing on the wall. The Las Vegas Raiders need a quarterback like we all need air to breathe. They are going to take Mendoza No. 1 overall, as certainly as the sun will rise tomorrow morning. After that, it is anyone's guess who could be coming off the board next to the New York Jets picking at No. 2. It might be Bain. It probably should be Bain, but they are the Jets, folks...

In the end, you have to love Bain's combination of confidence, self-awareness, and swagger. He has the potential to transform any pass rush he becomes a vibrant part of. If he plays in the league for a decade, look for him to earn multiple Pro Bowl honors. If it all clicks for him, we could be looking at a multi-time All-Pro, and all of that other good stuff that comes along with that. He should go No. 2...

Right now, as long as he interviews well and the medicals check out, Bain should be a top-five pick.