The Cincinnati Bengals are heading into a pivotal offseason, and the message is clear: something’s got to give on defense. After missing the playoffs for a third straight year, Cincinnati is staring down a familiar problem - a unit that just hasn’t been able to hold its own. And with veteran edge rusher Trey Hendrickson likely on his way out, the Bengals are in the market for a difference-maker up front.
Enter Rueben Bain Jr.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Bain could be the answer at No. 10 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. The edge rusher out of Miami may not be built like your prototypical NFL pass rusher, but he plays with a motor and physicality that jumps off the tape.
At 6’2” and just under 250 pounds, Bain doesn’t win with overwhelming size - he wins with power, leverage, and some of the fastest hands in college football. That formula worked to perfection in 2025, when he earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors while helping the Hurricanes make a surprise run to the College Football Playoff title game.
Bain’s production speaks for itself: 20.5 sacks over three seasons, including a dominant final year that had offensive coordinators scrambling. He doesn’t fit the mold of a “combine warrior,” but he’s the kind of player who shows up when it matters - on Saturdays, and soon, on Sundays.
That’s a stark contrast to the Bengals’ 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. Stewart had all the traits scouts drool over - size, length, athleticism - and he tested off the charts at the combine.
But that didn’t translate into production on the field. Stewart finished his rookie season with just one sack, and while it’s far too early to write him off, the Bengals can’t afford to wait around for potential to turn into performance.
That’s where Bain comes in. He’s not going to wow anyone in a t-shirt and shorts, but he’s a proven producer - and right now, Cincinnati needs players who can disrupt the pocket and change the tone of a game.
Especially if Hendrickson is indeed headed elsewhere this offseason, as expected. The Bengals managed to keep him around for 2025, patching things together for one more run, but even his presence couldn’t lift the defense out of the bottom tier.
The group lacked identity, bite, and consistency - three things Bain could help restore.
The Bengals have talent on the offensive side of the ball. What they need now is a defensive spark - someone who can bring energy, accountability, and, most importantly, results.
Rueben Bain Jr. might not be the flashiest name in this year’s draft, but he’s built to make an immediate impact. And for a team desperate to get back into the postseason mix, that’s exactly what they should be looking for.
The draft kicks off in late April in Pittsburgh. Between now and then, expect the Bengals to do their homework - because this pick could define the next chapter of their franchise.