NFL Draft 2026: Rueben Bain Jr. Dismisses Arm Length Concerns

In the always-changing world of NFL scouting, physical metrics somehow end up stealing the spotlight. Arm length, especially for defensive linemen, is one of those numbers that gets people talking.

Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is right in the middle of this conversation as he gets ready for the 2026 NFL Draft. There’s been plenty of chatter about his arm length, but Bain doesn’t seem bothered—he keeps pointing out that teams care more about what he does on the field and how sharp he is mentally.

This post takes a look at Bain’s journey, why arm length matters so much in the NFL, and what coaches and analysts are actually saying about him.

Rueben Bain Jr.’s Stellar College Career

Bain’s college run has been, honestly, pretty incredible. He wrapped up 2025 as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

He played a huge part in pushing the Miami Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff title game. His stats pretty much speak for themselves:

• 33.5 tackles for loss
• 20.5 sacks
• Four forced fumbles

He put up those numbers over 38 games, starting in 36 of them. When the postseason hit, he turned it up even more—five sacks in just three playoff games.

It’s no wonder people see him as a likely high pick in the next NFL Draft.

The Arm Length Debate

Still, despite all that, Bain’s arm length keeps coming up with draft analysts. He’s expected to measure around 31 inches, which is a bit short of the NFL’s usual 33-inch “ideal” for defensive linemen.

Bain, though, says it hasn’t really come up in his interviews with teams. He shrugged it off, saying, None of the teams seem to be too concerned with it… Nobody is really asking me about it.

Expert Opinions on Bain’s Potential

Robert Saleh, the new Titans head coach, has talked up Bain’s football IQ and what he puts on tape. Saleh did mention Bain might need to tweak a few things—maybe a nod to the arm length stuff—but overall, he sounds confident in Bain’s NFL future.

Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Network has Bain as his No. 6 prospect. Bain’s meeting with the Titans, who pick fourth, apparently went really well.

Bain figures his energy and football smarts made a strong impression on the Titans’ staff. Hard to argue with that.

The Importance of Football IQ

One thing that jumps out about Bain is his football IQ. He just gets the game on a deeper level.

Bain put it this way: Knowing football like the back of my hand, knowing football like my last name. That kind of preparation and understanding is what he thinks separates him from other prospects.

Potential Fit with the Tennessee Titans

The Titans seem pretty interested in Bain. Earlier this month, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons even went public, pushing for the team to draft him.

Bain’s also pumped about maybe reuniting with his old Miami teammate, Cam Ward, who’s now the Titans’ quarterback. He called it a hell of an opportunity, which honestly sounds about right.

With the Titans holding the fourth pick, there’s a real shot Bain could end up there. He said his time with the team was great: The interaction with them was great… we killed on one end, just left with the right mindset.

Scouting Combine and Final Measurements

The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is a big deal for draft hopefuls. Bain’s group is set to measure officially on Thursday, so we’ll finally get those arm length numbers.

Even though 33 inches is the so-called magic number, Bain’s play and football IQ might just make the whole measurement debate feel a bit overblown.

If you want to keep tabs on Bain and the other top prospects, live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will be on NFL Network and NFL+.

Conclusion

Rueben Bain Jr.’s journey to the NFL Draft really shows off his talent and work ethic. There’s been a lot of talk about his arm length, but honestly, Bain just keeps his head down and focuses on playing his game.

Coaches like Robert Saleh and analysts such as Daniel Jeremiah have spoken highly of him. It seems like Bain could be ready to shake things up in the NFL.

The draft’s getting closer, and people are definitely watching to see where he’ll end up. Can he make that leap to the next level? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

For more details on Rueben Bain Jr.’s prospects and the latest updates from the NFL Scouting Combine, you can read the full article here.