5 days ago
2
The Washington Commanders can pick no lower than No. 7 in the 2026 NFL draft. At 4-12 heading into Week 18, the Commanders are in an excellent position to land a premium player, especially if more than one quarterback lands in the top five.
Washington needs defensive help. Specifically, the Commanders need a dominant edge rusher. That's why Miami EDGE Rueben Bain has been a popular selection for Washington in early 2026 mock drafts.
Advertisement
On Wednesday night, Bain and his Miami Hurricanes upset the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff. Bain played a massive role in Miami's standout defensive performance, finishing with three tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one sack. It comes one week after Bain's dominant performance against Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, where he finished with three sacks.
Bain dominated Ohio State's talented offensive line, creating opportunities for his teammates. There's no doubt that his performance in the College Football Playoff will only help him in April's 2026 NFL draft.
There has been a lot of debate about Bain recently, citing his length. Several draft analysts have Bain falling due to those concerns. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Bain ranked as his No. 19 overall prospect.
Here's what Kiper said about Bain in his latest big board:
Bain is powerful and has really strong hands. He routinely gets the best of some very good offensive tackles, often with his dominant rip move, and he knows every trick in the book in getting home to the QB. Bain also shows speed and bend off the edge, and he takes good angles. Plus, he can hold the edge against the run and get off blocks to chase down ball carriers. His tape is just filled with disruption.
But even with all those A-level traits, it's actually Bain's hustle that really stands out to me. He never takes a play off and fires at the ball on every play. His arms are shorter than most scouts prefer, but there's so much to like with his game. Opponents have to account for him in their game plans, and he can keep them guessing even then with his inside-outside flexibility.
When you play as well as Bain has in the biggest games, NFL teams will notice. NFL teams will also love how hard Bain plays. Additionally, he can line up inside and rush the passer. That's another plus for Bain as an NFL prospect. While there will be teams who drop Bain due to his length concerns, others will turn on the tape and focus on that evaluation.
Advertisement
Where does Washington fall? The Commanders badly need a game-wrecking defender, whether it's on the interior or the edge. Is Bain that guy? Bain should be one of the more interesting draft prospects to follow in the coming months. In the meantime, he's trying to bring Miami a national championship.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain dominant in upset over Ohio State
English (US) ·