Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain, Jr. has been one of the 2026 NFL Draft’s most debated players among draft pundits and experts.

Miam’s star edge rusher was arguably college football’s most disruptive force in 2025, leading the national runner up Hurricanes with 83 pressures on the year and looking flat-out unblocking for extended stretches.

However, Bain’s arm length, or lack thereof, has been the topic of controversy as the NFL Draft approaches. Bain measured 30 7/8-inch arms at the NFL Combine, which is obviously a very suboptimal number. History hasn’t been kind to edge rushers with arms under 32 inches.

That being said, Bain has remained a fixture among the top ten picks in just about every mock draft you’ll find out there, and that includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., who put out his latest version on Tuesday. However, he has Bain going in a spot that not too many of his peers have put Bain — to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 9 pick.

Mel Kiper, Jr.’s latest mock draft has Hurricanes EDGE Rueben Bain, Jr. going to the Kansas City Chiefs

“After trading Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson in free agency, cornerback need some repairs,” Kiper, Jr. wrote. “LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy have to be considerations here. But remember, the Chiefs now have two first-round picks. And Bain would be very tough to pass up at this spot. Despite 30⅞-inch arms that caused quite the stir at the combine, Bain is dominant off the edge. He simply finds ways to get to the QB, whether it’s with his speed, power or savviness. He had 71 pressures last season en route to 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.”

Kiper, Jr. isn’t the only person to go with Bain to the Chiefs in a recent mock draft. A to Z Sports Kansas City writer Charles Goldman also tabbed the Miami standout for the Chiefs in his latest mock draft. Goldman shared his insight here as to why Bain and the Chiefs could be a good marriage.

“The only thing worse than the Chiefs’ running back room last season was the edge rusher position,” Goldman said. “They were one of the worst teams in the league when it came to third-and-long distances because they simply could not get any pressure on the quarterback. It was basically, Chris Jones and a prayer on most snaps. The team didn’t address the position in any way during free agency. In fact, they might’ve made it worse by releasing Mike Danna.

“Right now, it’s the biggest draft need for the team and if Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. is available at pick No. 9, I don’t see them passing him up. The arm length thing is a bit overblown, and I imagine that the Chiefs will see a Melvin Ingram-type player in Steve Spagnuolo’s system.”