Despite concerns over his measurables, Rueben Bain Jr. is turning heads in Tampa. Jon Gruden believes the draft-day steal possesses the explosive traits to ignite the Buccaneers' pass rush.
At the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took advantage of a draft-night slide from Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., landing the second-team All-American with the No. 15 overall pick.
At the end of the college football season, Bain was seen as a contender for the No. 1 overall pick, but concerns surrounding his arm length and measurables dropped his stock.
Nevertheless, Bain was touted as one of the steals of the draft, and has made a strong impression on the front office and his teammates throughout OTAs.
On Friday, former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden joined the 95.7 WDAE radio show to talk about Bain and what he expects from him this season.
"Well, I think he can be a double-digit sack guy," Gruden said. "Now, some of the analytical people are scared of him because of his arm length and some of that stuff. I think he's a double-digit sack guy."
At Miami, Bain notched 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. His 92.5 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season ranked third among 852 qualified edge defenders.
Against the run, Bain recorded 29 solo tackles and forced two fumbles, adding an interception in pass protection.
Bain's aggressiveness on the line and in pursuit is something that has stood out in early practice sessions, as one coach was even seen telling the rookie to take it easy on the team's equipment.
Last season, Tampa's pass rush was among the bottom of the league, with a 19.8-percent pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference, ranking No. 25 in the NFL.
Bain will certainly help inflate this number, but as Gruden articulated, it will be dependent on the rest of the defensive line.
"I do think, though, its going to come down to [Calijah] Kancey, Vita Vea, we've got to get more out of Yaya Diaby," Gruden said. "Its gotta be a collection of rushers."
Gruden went on to talk about his time at the helm of the Bucs, and how valuable a multi-faceted attack can be.
"Don't forget, when we had a great pass rush, it was Warren Sapp, but we had Simeon [Rice], we had [Greg] Spires. We had guys coming inside and out, and we could bring a wave of guys," Gruden said. "So, I think Rueben Bain's got a huge ceiling, but obviously, he's a rookie. He's going to need a little help from his friends."
Vea, a two-time Pro Bowler, is always going to provide help in the run game, while taking up one-two offensive linemen with his size.
Cancey and Diaby are two players poised for a jump, as the pair has dealt with their fair share of injuries, but have showed flashes of consistency when available.
Diaby, who will line up across from Bain, recorded seven sacks and 50 total tackles last season.
This offseason, he has talked about being focused on more than just on-field production, setting lofty goals for himself as a locker room presence.
"I'm definitely doing whatever I can to earn the trust of the guys. I come to work every day," Diaby said on the "Up & Adams Show" in May. "I earn the trust of the coaches as well and I do believe that I will take that next step to being the next captain."
The Bucs' young defensive front will have it's hands full following the departure of Bucs legend linebacker Lavonte David, but with the combination of talent in the room, expect the pass rush to be much-improved.
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