When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Rueben Bain the No. 15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the former Miami star grabbed the hat, kept moving and did not waste much time with the pageantry. The viral moment said plenty and the report from inside the building was that it made an impression on the Bucs.
After a draft night slide, Bain now arrives as a player with a chip on his shoulder, and he has plenty of experience in that department.
Can confirm this made an impression inside the Bucs building
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) April 24, 2026
“He’s not into the cute shit” 😂 https://t.co/NyaxrJN0UU
Rueben Bain's no-nonsense draft moment is promising for Bucs fans
The Buccaneers selected Bain with the 15th overall pick Thursday night, making him the second Miami player taken in the first round after Francis Mauigoa went No. 10 to the New York Giants. Miami's Akheem Mesidor also went later in the first round (No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers).
The Bucs needed pass-rush help, as they finished last season with 37 sacks, which was the lowest total since Todd Bowles joined the organization as defensive coordinator in 2019.
An underrated part of Bain's Miami career is his comeback from injury
The best part of Bain's story at Miami is how he was able to get his career back on track after a sophomore season changed the way people viewed him.
Bain was a star right away at Miami. He had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a freshman in 2023, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Then in 2024, a soft-tissue injury in the season opener limited him to eight games and slowed him down a ton. Going into the spring, there were questions surrounding his health, weight, and ability to lead Miami.
It may seem wild to think about now, but there was actually a time when Bain had to prove himself. Of course — just like great players do — he rose to the occasion and got in the best shape he had ever been in. He dominated the spring and calmed down the noise.
By the end of 2025, the dip in his second season was nothing more than a footnote. Bain started all 16 games, finished with 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and one interception. Miami won 13 games and made its first College Football Playoff appearance.
He came a long way from the injury questions of 2024. He came a long way from people wondering whether he could get back to the freshman version of himself. And it's why he'll continue to grow in the face of any adversity in the NFL.
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