(Editor's Note: While the start of the 2026 NFL Draft isn't until late April, it's never too early to profile some of the key participants. The staff of DallasCowboys.com intends to preview the landscape of the draft's top prospects, with an emphasis on possible Cowboys draft picks – from the first round to the last. Today's featured player is Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.)
- Name: Rueben Bain Jr.
- Position: Edge rusher
- College: Miami
- Height/Weight: 6'2", 263
- Did You Know? Playing at Miami was all but meant to be for Bain, whose father Rueben Sr. was nicknamed "Hurricane" in high school and went on to play at Morris Brown College. The connections to the U don't end there, as his cousin Tolbert Bain played defensive back for the Canes from 1984-1987, winning a national championship in his final season. His brother Reggie was a graduate assistant coaching offensive line at Miami for two years, and now is on SMU's staff.
Where He's Projected:
Early on in mock drafts, Bain was closer up towards being a top-five pick in the NFL draft after a strong finish to his final season in the College Football Playoff, helping Miami reach a national championship. After the NFL Combine, some concerns about Bain's arm length have seen him fall closer towards the ninth-to-12th overall pick range, which could be good news for the Cowboys. That said, some of the teams in front of Dallas like the Chiefs and Bengals are also in the market for a pass rusher, which may mean Bain is off the board.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
In adding Rashan Gary via trade to start the offseason, the Cowboys added a strong run defender who has been a consistent producer as a pass rusher as well over the course of his career. If the Cowboys add Bain to go along with Gary and the other outside linebackers in the room like Donovan Ezeiruaku, they'll get a powerful rusher with good get off on the line and a relentless motor. In Miami's CFP run, Bain proved he can wreck a game against top competition, with five sacks in four games down the stretch. Bain can play at different spots along the line, has the base to anchor against double teams and has excellent technique. He may not be the fastest player at his position, but he consistently finishes plays and creates all kinds of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Final Thoughts:
The biggest knock on Bain throughout the process has been his arm length, as 30 7/8" is well shorter than the 33" or so average for NFL pass rushers. That will give some teams concern, and there's been discussion about moving Bain closer to the football on the line of scrimmage given his measurables. That arm length may make it more difficult for Bain to hold up against double teams at the NFL level. Still, Bain's tape has shown that he can take over a game whether he's lined up out wide or plays closer to the ball. His power and punch has been hard for opposing offensive lineman to deal with. The biggest question for the Cowboys, and any team considering drafting Bain, will be if they feel comfortable with Bain's unprecedented measurables for the position.
