NFL.com News on Rueben Bain

Buccaneers 15th pick signals return to bully-ball defense under Bowles

Bain was selected 15th overall by the Buccaneers after a disappointing second half of the 2025 season. Head coach Todd Bowles wanted his squad to get back to the rough-and-rugged identity that helped the Buccaneers capture four straight NFC South titles from 2021 to 2024. The move signaled a return to the bully ball tactics that served the defense well in the past, with a ferocious pass rush harassing quarterbacks at every turn. Although questions persist about Bain's arm length and whether it will impact him in the pros, there's no doubt he's a junkyard dog who brings energy, intensity and violence to the field.

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