If you watched the College Football Playoff, you didn’t need a scouting report to see it-Rueben Bain Jr. is a problem for offensive lines. The Miami edge rusher was a force off the edge, and now he’s officially headed to the NFL Draft. One team is going to get a potential game-wrecker, and according to Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, that team might just be the Washington Commanders.
Washington holds the No. 7 overall pick, and if Bain is still on the board at that point, it could be a no-brainer. The Commanders are in desperate need of defensive help, and Bain brings the kind of disruptive ability that can shift a game’s momentum in a single snap.
Let’s talk production: Bain notched 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss during the 2025 season. And he didn’t slow down under the bright lights-he showed up in the national title game against Indiana with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. That’s the kind of motor and consistency NFL teams crave, especially from a player who’s still refining his game.
What makes Bain special isn’t just the stats-it’s how he gets them. He’s got that rare blend of power, speed, and flexibility that allows him to win in multiple ways.
He can bull-rush through a tackle’s chest or bend around the edge with the kind of lean that reminds you of elite-level pass rushers. That versatility means Washington could move him around the defensive front to create mismatches-something every defensive coordinator dreams about.
And let’s be honest, the Commanders need that kind of impact player. Their defense gave up 6.0 yards per play last season, tied for third worst in the league.
Their top pass rusher, Von Miller, led the team with nine sacks-but he turns 37 in March and isn’t under contract for 2026. Bain wouldn’t just be a luxury pick-he’d be a foundational piece for a defense that’s trying to find its identity.
Washington hasn’t had many swings at the No. 7 pick in franchise history, but the track record is a mixed bag. Back in 1952, they took Larry Isbell, a dual-sport star out of Baylor who never played a down in the NFL.
In 1963, it was tight end Pat Richter, who didn’t quite live up to the billing. But in 1999, they hit a home run with Champ Bailey-a future Hall of Famer who made his biggest mark in Denver but was clearly a top-tier talent from the jump.
This year, the Commanders are hoping to land closer to Champ than to the other two. If Bain is still there at No. 7, don’t be surprised if Washington pulls the trigger. With his skill set and upside, he could be the kind of player who helps anchor a new era of Commanders football.