Reuben Bain visited with the Cincinnati Bengals, but the front office should be prioritizing a linebacker with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals hosted Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. on Friday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, one day after his visit with the Kansas City Chiefs. This comes as the Bengals hold the No. 10 overall pick and remain heavily linked to Ohio State safety Caleb Downs ahead of the upcoming Draft slated for April 24 in Pittsburgh.
Despite already adding one of the biggest names in free agency in Boye Mafe, who is coming off a career year that culminated in a Super Bowl title, edge remains a need: but not for a pick as valuable as No. 10 overall.
Reuben Bain Has Upsides But the Bengals Desperately Need a Linebacker
Bain, a 6-2, 263-pound junior, delivered elite production in 2025: 54 tackles (30 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble across 16 starts. He earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year, the Ted Hendricks Award and consensus All-American honors. Career totals stand at 121 tackles, 33.5 TFL and 20.5 sacks. PFF graded him 92.5 overall, with 67 pressures. His motor, hand usage and inside-out versatility make him a three-down prospect who dominated ACC competition.
Bain’s 30 7/8-inch arms represent a significant red flag for an edge defender. Short-armed rushers frequently lose leverage against NFL tackles with longer arms and elite footwork. Bain skipped most athletic testing, and his projected 4.72-second 40-yard dash ranks average for the position.
In a draft class already light on premium edge talent, his profile carries some concerns that mirrors past short-armed first-round disappointments. Cincinnati’s defensive front improved marginally with Mafe and veteran interior addition Jonathan Allen. Adding Bain would create a rotation with Mafe, yet the Bengals should be prioritizing a player like Downs: the nation’s top safety prospect, who posted 68 tackles, five TFL and two interceptions while winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Downs offers immediate impact in coverage and run support, addressing a secondary that needs athleticism beside Jordan Battle and recent signees Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger.
The Bengals also recently hosted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, the Doak Walker winner, who rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns at 6.9 yards per carry while adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three scores in 2025. He is a dynamic three-down back, but drafting a running back at No. 10 remains a luxury the Bengals cannot justify when their defense still needs some upgrade.
Bain’s tape warrants first-round consideration, but not for a Cincinnati team that desperately needs a linebacker. The Bengals should rather push for a player like Downs if available, even if it means trading up to acquire the highly coveted safety.