The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Right now, we’re:

63 days away from Bucs regular season kickoff
33 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff
17 days away from Bucs training camp

In the lead-up to training camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams will be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who will be crucial to the Bucs’ success in 2026.

Today, the series continues with outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr.

26 For ‘26: Rueben Bain Jr. Bucs Storylines In 2026

Which Quarterback Will Rueben Bain Jr. Sack First In His Rookie Season?

It’s a question that gets asked to edge rushers a whole lot during the pre-draft process, and some are even asked in their introductory press conferences: Which opposing quarterback are you looking forward to sacking the most? Most take the approach of simply replying with “all of them,” which, yeah, fair enough. So, let’s reframe the question as it pertains to Bain, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Which opposing quarterback will Bain take down first? The Bucs certainly hope their No. 15 overall pick collects his fair share of sacks as a rookie and then builds resume full of quarterbacks — big-name guys or not — who he’s taken to the ground. Who’s the first one going to be, though? It’s interesting the way Tampa Bay’s schedule plays out with this question in mind.

Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr., GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Because if Bain gets his first career sack in Week 1, it’ll be against one of the league’s very best in Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. But if his first comes in Week 2, it’ll be less of a name — no matter who the Browns start under center. It could be Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, which may not be quite as memorable as Burrow. However, it would mean Bain’s first sack as a Buc coming in front of the home fans at Raymond James Stadium, so there’s that.

You’d think Bain will get to the quarterback within the first couple of weeks, but coming down the pipeline after that? There’s the Vikings quarterback, whoever it might be between J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray. In Week 4, a bigger name comes around in Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Then comes Cowboys signal-caller Dak Prescott under the lights on Thursday Night Football in Week 5.

Beyond the question of which quarterback Bain will sack first, there’s the general reality that the young pass rusher will have some of the league’s top quarterbacks in his sights throughout his rookie campaign based purely on the way the Bucs’ schedule sets up. In addition to Burrow, Love and Prescott, there’s Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers (Week 6), Chicago’s Caleb Williams (Week 9), Detroit’s Jared Goff (Week 11), the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert (Week 13), Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (Week 14) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford (Week 17).

How Many Sacks Can Rueben Bain Jr. Tally In 2026?

With the first question centering on which quarterback Bain will sack first in 2026, the natural progression means that the ensuing question is a little something like this: How many sacks will Bain rack up in his rookie season with the Bucs?

Bain was at Miami for three seasons and posted 7.5 sacks as a freshman in 2023, 3.5 as a sophomore in 2024 and 9.5 in his junior season a year ago. He worked as part of a formidable pass rushing duo with Akheem Mesidor, and now he’ll form a duo with Yaya Diaby in Tampa Bay. As much as Bain’s presence seemed to help Mesidor and as much as it’ll help Diaby, there’s a case to be made that Diaby’s presence off the other edge will help Bain more than Mesidor’s did at Miami.

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That could mean even more sack opportunities for No. 3 in his rookie season. So, what’s the ceiling? Jevon Kearse still holds the rookie sack record of 14.5, which he set for the Titans in 1999. But could Bain challenge the longstanding franchise record for sacks by a rookie? Santana Dotson set that in 1992 from the defensive tackle position, finishing the year with 10.

Bain never hit double-digit sacks during his three seasons at Miami, but he very much has that potential in him. James Pearce Jr. tallied 10.5 as a rookie for Atlanta last year. But are those expectations too much to put on a 21-year-old Bain in Year 1, especially considering that the Bucs haven’t had a double-digit sacker since Shaq Barrett finished with 10 in 2021?

Whether he challenges Dotson’s Bucs record or not, Bain would seem to have a really good shot at having one of the better pass rushing seasons ever by a Tampa Bay rookie. Because behind Dotson’s 10-sack 1992 season, the second-most quarterback captured by a rookie came in 2007 when Stylez G. White tallied eight. Just behind White’s eight? The 7.5 Diaby posted in 2023 and the 7.5 Adrian Clayborn totaled 12 years before that.

What do you think, Pewter People? How many sacks do you see Bain notching as a rookie in 2026?

How Much Of A Force Multiplier Can Rueben Bain Jr. Be For The Bucs Defense?

When it comes to measuring Bain’s impact on the Buccaneer defense in 2026, it won’t just be about sack numbers and pressures. It won’t be about tackles for loss or forced fumbles either, though both would help, of course. Rather, it’ll be about the opportunities he creates for his teammates around him.

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That’s why Bain looks like he could be such a transformative addition for the Bucs defense. Because as much pass rushing prowess as he possesses and as good as he can be at setting the edge and defending the run, the 2026 first-round pick is a force multiplier. We’ve talked about it and written about it plenty here at Pewter Report. But that’s because it’s the truth.

Bain elevates the players around him, for one, and he creates opportunities for his teammates to make plays just as often as he makes the plays himself. Look at the 11.5 sacks Akheem Mesidor had at Miami last year. How much did Bain’s presence help him reach that number? How many of those sacks came from Bain flushing the quarterback toward his teammate?

What about versatile defensive back Keionte Scott, who was teammates with Bain at Miami and will now team up with him again in Tampa Bay? All five of Scott’s sacks last year came when he was aligned on the same side of the formation as Bain. In other words, when the two rushed from the same direction, it meant good things for Scott — and for the Hurricanes defense.

Now, think about the pieces the Bucs have on their defense in 2026. Up front, Yaya Diaby, Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, A’Shawn Robinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, David Walker and more will benefit from what Bain brings to the table. The inside linebackers — namely Alex Anzalone and fellow rookie Josiah Trotter — could reap their own benefits, as can defensive backs like Scott and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith.

It felt like Tampa Bay’s entire offseason turned around when it landed Bain in the first round of April’s draft. And there’s a good reason for that.

Catch Up On Previous Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Series

OFFENSE:

Baker Mayfield
Bucky Irving
Kenny Gainwell
Chris Godwin Jr.
Emeka Egbuka
Jalen McMillan
Cade Otton
Tristan Wirfs
Ben Bredeson
Graham Barton
Cody Mauch
Luke Goedeke

DEFENSE:

Yaya Diaby