The Bucs wasted no time making sure that first round pick edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was officially on the Bucs. Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Bain signed his rookie contract on Thursday just a day ahead of Bucs rookie mini-camp. Bain is the first player in the Bucs’ 2026 draft class to sign his rookie deal. It’s a four-year contract with a fifth-year team option, as is custom for first round picks.

Tampa Bay selected Bain 15th overall in this year’s draft. It was a shock that he fell that far, but a benefit for the Bucs as they were in huge need of an edge rusher. Bain was highly coveted as arguably the best edge rusher in this year’s draft class.

New Bucs OLB Bain Gets To Stay In Florida Going From Miami To Tampa 

Born and raised in Miami before going on to star for the Miami Hurricanes, Bain is a 6-foot-2, 263-pound menace off the edge. He’s densely built and uses an immense amount of power at the point of attack, and he’s an outstanding run defender to boot. While he has a softer-spoken demeanor off the field, he brings a relentless attitude to the field and put together an impressive three-year collegiate career.

He was a Freshman All-American and the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 after playing in 13 games (starting 11) and posting 7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He then dipped down to 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss over nine games as a sophomore before becoming a consensus All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2025. In his third and final year with the Hurricanes, Bain totaled 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception.

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Mark J. Rebilas

Bain, who doesn’t turn 22 years old until just before the 2026 season opener, becomes the 13th draft pick out of the University of Miami in Buccaneer history. He’s the first since running back Mike James in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft and the first Hurricanes defender to be selected by Tampa Bay since linebacker Nate Webster in the third round of the 2000 Draft.

Bucs Revamped OLB Room With Rueben Bain Jr. And Company

With the addition of a first-round pick in Rueben Bain Jr., the Bucs just made a big splash at the outside linebacker position heading into 2026. The former Miami Hurricane joins a room led by a fourth-year pro in Yaya Diaby and veteran newcomer Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Deeper down the depth chart are 2025 fourth-round pick David Walker—who the Bucs are extremely high on—as well as veteran Anthony Nelson and former second-round pick Chris Braswell.

On the surface, it would seem as if that’s the completed room for Tampa Bay. But with Braswell failing to develop much over his first two seasons, his spot is far from guaranteed. And given the depth of this year’s draft class at outside linebacker, there’s no sense in ruling out the possibility of the Bucs adding another pass rusher before the weekend is over.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After all, the pass rush has been a disappointment for Todd Bowles’ defense in recent years, and it hit a new low in 2025. The team’s 37 total sacks became its lowest mark in the Bowles era, which dates back to 2019. So, heading into the 2026 offseason, the goal was to bolster the pass rush — and specifically the four-man pass rush.

The first addition was Muhammad, who notched a career-high 11 sacks for the Lions last year. And with a premium pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bucs have added another pass rusher with a high ceiling in Rueben Bain Jr., who has double-digit sack potential at the next level with his quick get-off, violent approach and his strong hands. His pass rush arsenal includes club, swim and swat techniques and has a unique blend of power and bend that gives him rare upside that a lot of other edge rushers in this year’s class lacked.

Bain learned under Miami defensive ends coach Jason Taylor, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who totaled 139.5 sacks in his career and made six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. That certainly helped the Miami product as he developed over three years into a top-15 pick in the NFL Draft.

Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Mikayla Oliveira – The University of Miami

Tampa Bay’s first round pick will head to Tampa and look to transform the Buccaneer pass rush alongside Yaya Diaby, a fellow ACC product who will certainly be thrilled to have some more help off the edge. Besides Diaby starting at edge rusher, the other starting outside linebacker spot is up for grabs at the moment.

Eventually it will be Bain’s spot, but Muhammad will be a factor and may potentially start there before Bain fills in. Bain is expected to be a big reason why the Bucs’ defense returns to form this season. They’ve been starving for an elite edge rusher, and with Bain they may have it again with him helping this group.