Should the Saints select Rueben Bain?
The New Orleans Saints should take a page from the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks playbook and build a dangerous pass rush. The Seahawks defensive line was dominant against the Patriots and was the key reason they won that game. The Saints have a formidable pass rush, but still need improvement to reach that level. One of the ways they can do this is during the 2026 NFL Draft, where Miami’s Rueben Bain awaits.
The Saints already have Chase Young, who is a star in the making. He racked up an impressive 10 sacks in 12 games last season and proved he’s a franchise cornerstone. They had amazing complementary pieces with Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan; however, the future around them is uncertain. This makes edge rusher a necessity this offseason.
Rueben Bain would be a perfect option for the Saints in the NFL Draft
Bain was the most dominant player in college football last year, which was evident in Miami’s College Football Playoff run. The 6-foot-3, 276-pound edge rusher totalled 9.5 sacks and a league-leading 83 pressures. Lots of analysts will bring up his lack of arm length, which is a real concern, but his prowess as a pass rusher and in run defense makes him one of the top prospects in the draft.
Bain is a triple threat rushing the quarterback: he can win with power, technique, and speed around the edge. This ability allows him to always keep opposing linemen guessing. Additionally, he has an outstanding first step, which can help him win immediately. He’s incredibly developed, deploying different pass rush moves each snap, which will help ease the transition to the NFL.
Despite this ability, Bain’s arguably better against the run. He has an uncanny ability to disengage from blockers, easily throwing them aside, and penetrating the backfield to make a play. He’s an amazing tackler and looks to flatten a defender on every hit.
Bain’s on-field play is spectacular, but his mentality is what sets him apart. It’s a simple comparison because of the last name, but his mindset parallels Bane’s from the movie The Dark Knight Rises. He doesn’t just want to win, he wants to utterly embarrass and destroy the competition, similarly to the Super villain. It’s an unconventional comparison, but it gets the point across.
Overall, edge rusher is a position the Saints must address in order to compete in the near future. A common theme among Super Bowl winning teams is a dominant defensive line, which they don’t currently have. Luckily for them, Rueben Bain awaits in the NFL Draft as a potential fit who would instantly elevate the group.