Mike Evans may not care about the Bucs drafting Rueben Bain, but Lavonte David sure does.
In fact, David has known Bain for years.
Speaking on The Set With T. Stead podcast, David shared his enthusiasm about the Bucs bagging a fierce edge rusher in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Short arms? Pfffft, David scoffed at that knock on Bain, adding that evaluators were down on his measurables coming out of the University of Nebraska in 2012.
“You can’t measure a guy’s heart.” David said.
As the draft unfolded, David said he was rooting for the Bucs to somehow grab Bain.
“I love it. I love it — A-plus pick,” David said. “As I saw him dropping, bro, I’m like, man, this can’t be happening.”
David thought the Dolphins or Cowboys would take Bain, he said, and after the pick he texted Bucs GM Jason Licht immediately.
“I know Rueben since he was little,” David explained. “When I had my book bag giveaway down here [in Miami], he used to come out and wait in line to get his book bag. But I saw him in high school. Even though he went to my rival high school, I knew he was a great player and you had to root for him because he was so good.”
Bain and David have been in touch. David said Bain was bummed out he missed David in Tampa by one year. But they’ll stay connected, David said.
“I’ll be around to talk to you, and stuff like that. Whatever you need, I got you,” David said he told Bain.
Joe loves the Bain-David connection. Joe also is wondering how long it might take David to decide he wants to play with Bain.