Rueben Bain Jr. was one of the most debated overall players in the 2026 NFL draft, and the early returns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not done much to settle that debate.

The former Miami Hurricanes star was supposed to give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a reliable pass rusher right away. Halfway through his rookie season, that hasn’t happened yet.

I was never a big Bain believer, and I said as much on the latest midseason rookie report episode of 13 Personnel with Austin Stanley and Easton Freeze. I never bought into the top-10 hype. Bain ended up coming off the board a bit outside the top 10 for a few different reasons, and a big part of it was his profile as a historical outlier at the position.

Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, that concern is showing up on the field.

Why I was never a Rueben Bain Jr. believer

It’s similar to the conversation around catch-point wide receivers. Some prospect profiles simply do not translate well to the NFL, and edge rushers with sub-32-inch arms have a poor track record at the next level.

To be fair, I always liked Bain’s floor. He’s an explosive athlete with some bend to him, and I expected him to be a useful football player from the start.

However, his body type and unorthodox profile made him an outlier among edge rushers who have succeeded in the NFL. Traits matter on the edge, and length is one of the biggest ones.

That’s why I viewed Bain as more of a floor-setter than a future star. Come in, be solid, and contribute right away.

Bain’s rookie numbers in Tampa Bay

So far, he hasn’t even reached that floor. In six games this season, Bain has nine pressures, one sack, and a 9.2 percent pass rush win rate.

Those numbers are rough, and the context makes them even more concerning. The Buccaneers do not rush the passer well as a team. Tampa Bay needed Bain to step in and be a dependable piece up front, and that hasn’t been the case.

You can point to Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Bears as a positive sign. Bain recorded a pressure and got a hit on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on an unblocked screen (sarcasm).

He also finished with two tackles, including a big hit on a Chicago running back. Those are nice plays, but they don’t change the bigger picture of how his rookie season has gone.

There is important context that I don’t want to ignore. Bain has been banged up this season, and there’s a chance his production picks up as he continues to get healthier. I’m not here to completely bury him.

Too early to call Bain a bust

I do not think Bain is a bust. I still believe he’ll end up being a solid football player in the NFL, and there is plenty of time for him to turn it around.

At the same time, his early struggles fit right into the conversation about traits mattering on the edge. He’s explosive, and the bend is real, but that unorthodox profile was a red flag for a reason. It’s worth watching closely over the rest of the season to see how well his game translates as he gets healthier.

For now, Bain’s rookie season has been a massive disappointment in Tampa Bay. My co-host didn’t have much to add.

“No notes. It’s been bad,” Freeze said.

I’ll admit, I’m glad this conversation came after Miami already lost to Notre Dame. Otherwise, I’d have a long list of Hurricanes fans chirping at me. We will see if Bain can prove me wrong over the second half of the season.