The Cincinnati Bengals made a statement move in T.J. Randall’s latest seven-round mock draft, selecting Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the 10th overall pick. After an underwhelming 2025 season that ended with the exit of veteran pass rush specialist Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati could be poised to go back to the well in this draft.
The Bengals defense has not been the compliment needed to their offense. With the loss of Trey Hendrickson in free agency and their 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, delivering a disappointing rookie campaign marked by injuries and lack of production, Cincinnati has more questions than answers. The front office did add Boye Mafe on a three-year deal in an effort to stabilize things. However, this unit ranked near the bottom of the league in sack and pressure percentage. Continuing to add depth and high upside youth is a must if they intend to return to the Super Bowl during the Joe Burrow era.
Could Rueben Bain be the Bengals Pick?
Reuben Bain Jr., the 6’-2”, 263-pound junior out of Miami created elite college production. With 9.5 sacks and 67 pressures in 2025, he also put together 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss over his three-year career. He’s a powerful, high-motor rusher who wins with leverage, quick hands, and relentless pursuit. Rueben’s mentality of ‘all football all the time’ shows up on game days. Bain comes with the ability to play multiple spots across the front and natural strength that collapses pockets on power rushes. Reuben projects as an immediate impact player that can be trusted early on passing downs while developing into his permanent role.
With the drafting of Joe Burrow first overall in 2020, Cincinnati has become a solid offensive team, been to the playoffs, and made a Super Bowl appearance in 2021. The defense, unfortunately, has not kept up. The unit has too often been a liability, particularly along the defensive line. The pass rush has depended almost entirely on Trey Hendrickson. Trey posted back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024. However, the Bengals finished 2025 near the bottom of the league in sacks and pressure rate, with the unit ranking 30th in points allowed (28.9 per game). With the departure of Hendrickson and the unsure future of Stewart, the defense cannot afford to take even a small step backwards.
The Arm Length Controversy
Of course, the predraft conversation around Bain has centered on his arm length (just under 31”) measured at the Combine. It’s historically short for an edge rusher taken in the first round. There’s not a single player with that arm length at his position that has ever been drafted in the top 100. It creates concern as to whether or not he can hold up against longer NFL tackles. There’s a belief in some circles that, unless a team extremely covets him, Reuben could have a longer wait to hear his name called than draftniks anticipate.
Bain is not interested in the noise, insisting teams should focus on his tape and technique to know what they’re getting. While some will view it as a red flag, the film shows a player with little limitations in his game.
Pairing Bain with Stewart gives Cincinnati potentially two high-upside athletes on the edge that can grow together. Adding Mafe gives veteran reliability in the rotation, and now the Bengals defense would look far more disruptive. It’s a recipe for pressure, which is something the Bengals have been struggling to cook up.
Conclusion
The selection of Reuben Bain for the Bengals at #10 overall can easily be justified, regardless of any physical concerns. In fact, my most recent mock draft had Bain going one selection earlier to the Chiefs. Cincinnati would be adding a bulldozer of a rusher with All-Pro potential. In a league that is more and more pass focused every season; the counter punch is having a defensive line that can create immediate pressure.
The Bengals drafting of Bain would be a solid step in the right direction.