The selection of Rueben Bain Jr. is going to be looked back upon by analysts and teams alike in the years to come as one of the better values in recent memory. When the pick was announced, everyone couldn’t believe the Bucs would have a chance to solve their edge rushing issues with the top player at the position group.
The pick is not just a value, though, in the eyes of ESPN’s Matt Bowen, it is also a “perfect” match between team and prospect.
Bowen wrote up the perfect pairing, saying, “Bain’s rugged play style fills an immediate need for the Bucs on their defensive front. He can set edges versus the run game (54 tackles on designed rushes last season); he combines power and flexibility to turn the corner as a pass rusher (five sacks in the College Football Playoff). In coach Todd Bowles’ defense, look for Bain to seize one-on-one opportunities, be used on loops/stunts and create interior matchups as a nickel/dime defensive tackle. This is a strong fit in Tampa Bay.”
The Bucs not only got a perfect pairing, but they also found a potentially perfect solution to their edge rusher problem. When so many high-priced options were available, general manager Jason Licht trusted the process and got the ultimate value and pairing in Rueben Bain Jr.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Analyst shares why Rueben Bain Jr. is a perfect fit for the Bucs
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
