The Dallas Cowboys are in the pass-rusher market, and one player they have recently met with is Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami.
After leading the Hurricanes to the National Championship Game, Bain is widely viewed as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But over the last few weeks, it appears that his stock has slipped some, and he is suddenly in range for the Cowboys at No. 12.
But is he a fit in Christian Parker’s defense? And would the Cowboys be able to ignore his less-than-ideal physical traits for a player who was super productive at the highest-level last season? That remains to be seen, but here is his scouting report and potential fit with the Cowboys going into the 2026 NFL Draft:
Rueben Bain Jr 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6022
Weight: 263 pounds
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.70-4.75
Recruiting: 4-star recruit, No. 71 ranked prospect, No. 10 ranked EDGE
College Production: 38 games, 121 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 20.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles
Positives:
- Super productive college player who impacts the game beyond the usual box score stats.
- Possess NFL power and has violent hands that can knock offensive tackles off their feet.
- Uses low center of gravity to his advantage and can get very low to the field
- Has a variety of pass rush moves and isn’t reliant on one single move to create pressure.
- Strong lower body allows him to hold up in the run game and doesn’t get moved off his spot.
- Surprisingly explosive first step and knows how to bend around the edge
- Plays through contact and still finds a way to disrupt the passer
Bain is a polished pass rusher with the rare combination of quickness and power. He has a bag of moves that he uses to disengage from offensive tackles and knows how to exploit the weaknesses of his opponents. His thick lower body and fast first step allow him to thrive all over the defensive line, and he can be downright unblockable in the right situation.
Negatives:
- Very short arms (30.75 inches) and that could knock his grade significantly for some teams
- Maxed out frame and lack of size could limit scheme fits
- Could struggle to stack-and-shed against longer offensive tackles in the run game
- Doesn’t have high-end athleticism that is usually associated with top-10 EDGE picks
- Lack of long speed shows up on back-side pursuits and chase-down sacks
Bain’s weaknesses are very evident, and there isn’t much he can do to correct them. He’s never going to get taller, and his arms will never get longer, which means teams are going to need to be okay with that when spending a top selection on him. He also doesn’t have the elite athleticism that we usually see with top-10 picks (think Abdul Carter), but Bain does have a quick first step, and the hope is that his power and his bag of pass-rush tools will make up for the average NFL athleticism.
Rueben Bain Jr. NFL Player Comparison: James Harrison, retired
It’s hard to compare a college prospect to a Hall of Fame caliber player, but Bain is such a unique prospect that it’s hard to find a current comp. Harrison had less-than-desirable measurables, but his ability to bend and play with power made him one of the most unstoppable players of his generation. If Bain could have even half the career that Harrison had in the NFL, he would be worthy of the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Rueben Bain Jr. Fit With The Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have historically liked longer defensive ends, but that might change with Christian Parker. Bain would be a strong fit with Donovan Ezeirukau as both players can defend the run and generate pass rush. He’s not the most comfortable in coverage but his ability to rush the passer, especially from a two-point stance would make for an easy transition to the league.
Rueben Bain Jr. NFL Draft Grade: Top-10 Grade
Bain isn’t a perfect prospect and you would prefer that his arms would be longer and that he would run a faster 40-yard dash. But he’s a football player who dominated in the biggest moments of the college football season. He can win multiple ways as a pass rusher, and his power and bend will endear him to his next NFL team.
He’s not in the Myles Garrett tier of Round 1 EDGE rushers, but he should be a top 10 lock. We’ll see if that’s the case come April, but he’s one of the best players in the class and should go very early.