Rueben Bain Jr. may have taken a surprising slide on draft night, but the early buzz in Tampa Bay says the Buccaneers might have landed one of the most dangerous defenders in the class anyway.
The former Miami Hurricanes standout went 15th overall to the Bucs, and the fit looks obvious from the start: a potential elite pass rusher dropping into Todd Bowles’ defense with a chance to cause problems right away. Tampa Bay has been encouraged by what it has seen from Bain in rookie camp and offseason mini-camp, and that optimism has spilled beyond the building. Oddsmakers have noticed too, making Bain the second-overall favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
At FanDuel, Bain is listed at +550, just behind New York Jets pass rusher David Bailey at +500. Another former Hurricane who landed in Tampa Bay, defensive back Keionte Scott, is also on the board at +10000 after the Buccaneers used a fourth-round pick on him. Scott was viewed as a potential steal after being projected as a second-round selection.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
The biggest concern attached to Bain at the NFL Combine had nothing to do with his production. It was his arm length, which didn’t meet the league’s standard for edge rushers and defensive ends.
Tampa Bay, though, clearly valued what he did on the field more than any measurement. The film showed a player who could wreck a play in a hurry.
“I love that he's very unique where he's got a great blend of power and athleticism," said Bucs GM Jason Licht. "He can bend, he's got get-off, he's very powerful, he's very explosive not just athleticism, but powerful hands, powerful strength and he plays very edgy. He plays with a chip on his shoulder.
That edge is a big part of why the Buccaneers are so intrigued. Licht also pointed to Bain’s effort, noting that he brings it every snap and practices the same way he plays. That kind of motor stood out in the spring and is expected to carry into training camp.
"His passion for the game. His passion to want to be the best.
We like his edge that he brings out there and the guy practices the same way that he plays. Football is one of the most important things in his life," Licht added.
For Tampa Bay, Bain’s timing couldn’t be much better. The Bucs need a difference-maker off the edge, and Bowles could use a major upgrade in that area. If Bain delivers, the team’s front office will look smart - and plenty of other NFL teams will be left wondering how he got away.
In Other News...
Miami Just Lost A Chaminade-Madonna Playmaker To A Bitter Rival
A familiar South Florida recruiting name came off the board with a choice that will sting plenty of people around Coral Gables. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Armani Strong, a four-star prospect in the 2028 class, is headed to Florida after drawing serious attention from Miami, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan, giving the Gators an early win in a battle that had plenty of local significance for the Hurricanes.
For Miami, the miss is especially notable because Strong has long been part of the South Florida talent stream the program works so hard to keep home. He enters the cycle as one of the more highly regarded receivers in the country and in Florida, while Floridas new staff under Jon Sumrall gets its first commitment of the 2028 class. Even this early, the recruiting board is already starting to show which battles the Hurricanes can afford to lose and which ones they probably cannot. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Sent Miami Fans A Clear Message About This Roster
EA Sports latest College Football 27 ratings offer a pretty clear snapshot of where Miami sits in the national conversation heading into the games July 9 launch. The Hurricanes come in at 88 overall, tied with LSU and Ole Miss and trailing a group that includes Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Texas, which is the kind of placement that suggests respect without quite reaching the sports top shelf.
The bigger takeaway for Miami fans is how much talent the roster carries beneath that team number. The Hurricanes have 15 players rated 85 or better, with the group split across both sides of the ball, a sign that this is not just a team built around a few headline names. Early access opens July 6 for eligible players, so plenty of fans will be getting their first close look at how the roster is stacked and where the game thinks Miamis strengths really lie. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Lost Ground In A Key 2027 Recruiting Battle
Miamis push for one of the countrys top 2027 tight ends hit a setback this week when Anthony Cartwright III came off the board after a recruiting process that had included a look at Coral Gables. The Detroit Country Day standout had taken official visits to Miami and Oregon in June, and his profile as a Rivals four-star prospect made him a priority name for a Hurricanes staff trying to build early momentum in the class.
Cartwrights decision matters for Miami because he had been one of the marquee targets on the board at his position, and the Hurricanes had spent June trying to make a strong impression on him. His final group also included Michigan, LSU and Michigan State, so the interest was broad and the competition was real, but Miami now has to turn the page and keep working a tight end board that was already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]