The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have landed one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft, but Sports Illustrated believes another NFC South team would have gladly ended Bain’s draft-night slide.
In his 2026 NFL Draft redo, Justin Melo projected the New Orleans Saints selecting Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the eighth overall pick instead of wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Melo acknowledged why New Orleans originally targeted Tyson, noting the receiver could help support quarterback Tyler Shough’s development. However, he viewed Bain as the better value, believing the Saints would have been wiser to strengthen their pass rush with one of the top defensive prospects in the class.
The fit makes sense on paper. Although New Orleans brought back longtime defensive end Cameron Jordan, Bain could have stepped in as the franchise’s long-term replacement while learning from one of the most accomplished pass rushers in team history.
For Buccaneers fans, the projection is another reminder of how fortunate Tampa Bay was on draft night. Bain entered the pre-draft process as one of the top edge defenders in the class, but concerns over his arm length caused him to slip all the way to No. 15 overall. The Buccaneers didn’t hesitate when he was still available.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Bain has already earned rave reviews from head coach Todd Bowles, who has praised the rookie’s football IQ and ability to process the game beyond what is typically expected from a first-year player.
If Melo’s redraft had become reality, the Buccaneers wouldn’t just have missed out on Bain. They would have had to face him twice every season as a member of the Saints, making one of the draft’s biggest steals an annual problem inside the NFC South.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs’ Rueben Bain Jr. stays in the NFC South in 2026 NFL Draft redo
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
