The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a smart move in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Rueben Bain Jr., and CBS Sports is already giving the pick high marks. The analysts see Bain as a perfect fit for a defense that needed a boost up front—especially against the run and along the edge of the defensive line.

What stands out about Bain is his physical, no-nonsense style of play. He's not just a flashy pass rusher; he's a guy who can dig in and make an immediate impact in run defense. That's exactly what Todd Bowles needs: a young EDGE defender who can hold his ground and contribute on every down, not just in obvious passing situations.

Last season, Tampa Bay managed just 37 sacks, and the front seven struggled with consistency throughout the year. While Bain won't single-handedly fix the pass rush overnight—CBS Sports notes that expecting a rookie to completely transform that area would be unrealistic—he brings fresh energy and a new presence to the edge of the line.

The good news is that the Buccaneers don't need Bain to carry the load right away. Yaya Diaby is returning in a major role, so Bain can develop at his own pace. The bigger question will be how quickly his pass-rush production catches up to his run-stopping ability. But for a team that simply needed new blood on the edge, drafting Bain was a step in the right direction.