Rueben Bain Jr. Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (shoulder) suffered an AC sprain in training camp, but it's said to be "nothing serious," and he is expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "He's got a sore shoulder that he's dealing with, so we kept him out today. He'll be fine," head coach Todd Bowles said. The 21-year-old from the University of Miami has played a key role on Tampa's defense in training camp and the preseason and figures to have a starting role to begin his first year in the NFL if he gets cleared from his shoulder injury. The 15th overall pick in April was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after recording 9.5 sacks for the Hurricanes, and he was considered one of the best edge rushers in this year's draft. Bain is expected to start at weakside linebacker in 2026 for a revamped Buccaneers defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Miami defensive end prospect Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bain contributed during all three of his collegiate seasons, totaling 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks by the end of his NCAA career. In 2025 alone, he racked up 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, all of which were career-high marks. He posted an elite 92.8 PFF grade during his final year at Miami, including a 78.9 tackling grade in the national championship against Indiana. Bain, who was the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will offer the Bucs a key pass-rushing threat on the end of the defensive line. He projects to play opposite Calijah Kancey, who is averaging 6.7 sacks per 17-game pace throughout his NFL career.

Multiple NFL teams are aware of University of Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.'s off-the-field issues and are investigating, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Bain was cited for careless driving in a fatal March 2024 collision, but the charge was dropped two weeks before the death of one of the passengers in his vehicle. Bain was also cited for careless driving in 2025, with that incident also later being dropped. The 21-year-old is one of the more intriguing edge rushers in the 2026 NFL draft class, but his issues off the field could cause his draft stock to fall ahead of the draft later this month. Bain had 20.5 sacks in his three collegiate seasons with the Hurricanes. In 16 games in his final season at Miami last year, he recorded a career-best 9.5 sacks, 30 solo tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. We probably won't have an idea of how much Bain's draft stock might fall until closer to the start of the draft on April 23.