Rueben Bain’s short arms and tragic car accident history contributed to his NFL Draft slide

Everyone knew about the horrific car accident and the aftermath a year later, but when it came to Rueben Bain’s draft status, people said, “No problem.” Her arms are short, but she is really beautiful, so the reservation remained: “No worries.”

So why did Rueben Bain slip to the middle of the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft?

Whoever said that there is no problem that will cause Bain to drop out of the Top 10 is clearly wrong.

He fell to the No. 15 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

TRAVIS HUNTER GETS REAL ABOUT HIS NFL FUTURE AND SHEDEUR SANDERS: ‘WE’LL JUST WORK’

And judging by Bain’s demeanor during his post-draft interview on ESPN, he wasn’t happy about it.

“I know I’m the best in the country, I’m sure,” an unsmiling Bain told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge after his selection. “That’s how I think about myself.

“I can tell you that I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mind. I know if I get to this level I will pull it off.”

The Buccaneers selected Bain to be the outside runner for Vita Vea in the middle.

BAKER MAYFIELD OPENS UP ON EX-TEAMMATE SAM DARNOLD, RECOVERING JOB, AND KEVIN STEFANSKI JOINING NFC SOUTH

That way the Bucs get the ACC defensive player of the year and a consensus All-American.

Ohio State’s Arvell Reese celebrates after being selected fifth overall by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

But they also got a player who surpassed many other teams in need. The New York Jets took TCU’s David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick and the New York Giants took Arvell Reese with the No. 5 pick.

Bain was not only the 15th player taken overall but the third edge defender. That is considered huge by any standard. But it’s disappointing for Bain and he changes the narrative in some ways.

TOP NFL DRAFT PROSPECT ASHTON JEANTY IS ‘EXTREMELY TALENTED’ AND ‘AWESOME KID,’ COLLEGE COACH SAYS

“He’s got to prove himself and overcome the odds and prove he can make it in the NFL,” draft pick Mel Kiper said on national television.

Interestingly, much of the coverage of Bain’s slide has focused on the short length of his arms.

Melvin Ingram was once measured with an arm span of 31 1/2 inches. And while that may be considered short, Ingram turned out to be a great player. He played 12 seasons and made three Pro Bowls.

GREG OLSEN’S ADVICE FOR FIRST NFL DRAFT PICKS FOR MANAGING HIGH EXPECTATIONS

But Bain’s arms are about 30 7/8 inches, and that’s pretty short. Indeed, the third shortest arm length of any DE to participate in the mix.

Rueben Bain Jr. of the Miami Hurricanes participates in the 2026 Miami Pro Day at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in Coral Gables, Fla., on March 23, 2026. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

So, is that why Bain is out of the Top 10?

SHEDEUR SANDERS’ FAILED NFL DRAMA HITS RACIAL OBJECTIONS: ‘HE FEELS LIKE KAEPERNICK’

Or is it his driving problems and the way he talks to those in groups?

Bain, you should know, was driving in March of 2024 when he hit another car on I-95 in South Florida at four o’clock in the morning and began to collide – hitting the east concrete wall and careening all the way across the highway to the west concrete border – which eventually left passenger Destiny Betts unconscious.

Betts, who was not wearing a seat belt, died three months later from complications from his severe injuries.

SHEDEUR SANDERS’ ‘MISTAKE’ HAS BEEN PROVIDED, NFL ANALYST SAYS

Bain was charged but convicted of reckless driving because a homicide detective said he got the final report after Bain paid off his ticket.

NFL teams are aware of all this, as well as the accident that followed this player in October 2025, when he was again charged with reckless driving.

Bucks General Manager Jason Licht speaks during a press conference with former Head Coach Bruce Arians and new head coach Todd Bowles on March 31, 2022, at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

To make things more difficult, Bain refused to go public about the accidents with other NFL teams he encountered starting in the NFL competition. That disappointed at least one team, a scout for that team told OutKick.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DOD NOT @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Bain also declined to comment on the matter Wednesday in front of reporters.

However, the Buckeyes feel good about Bain, his short arms and questionable drive.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

“We’ve known about this for a while,” said general manager Jason Licht. “I know it just came out a few weeks ago. It was a very tragic accident. It was a tragic event for the family. And it’s something you never want to see happen.

“But he’s a good person who was involved in something, you know, none of us ever wanted to be involved in and none of our loved ones want to be involved in it. But he loves football. He loves football.”