The Washington Commanders had a clear need to add an edge rusher in 2025. If you were listening to the “experts” headed into the NFL draft, that was a position many predicted they would take in the first round.
The only problem? The Commanders are in full on “win now” mode in 2025 and edge rushers traditionally take a few years to develop. That led them to sign former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and hope an elite group of interior defensive linemen can pick up the slack rushing the passer.
In 2026, the time might be right for the Commanders to finally take a first round swing at edge rusher, with The Ringer’s Todd McShay predicting they’ll draft Miami’s Rueben Bain at No. 20 overall in McShay’s Preseason Mock Draft.
“I don’t know if there’s any locks to go (at edge rusher) in round one but Rueben Bain, betting on his potential, betting on the fact that Florida game where he had that soft tissue injry in his leg, that that slowed him down and his tape was the same (as in 2023),” McShay said on August 14. “Still good (in 2024), still flashes, but 2023 as a freshman, he was awesome … there’s some edge rushers I think are going to ascend this year.”
One Of Florida’s GOAT High School Football Players
In 4 seasons at Miami Central High School, Bain was prodigal talent. He led his team to 4 consecutive state championships and finished his career with 77.0 sacks, including 48.5 sacks and 60 TFL over his final 2 seasons.
As a junior in 2021, Bain had 60 tackles, 29.5 sacks and 45 TFL and was named Miami Herald Defensive Player of the Year.
“(Bain) been deployed primarily as an edge player throughout much of his prep career, but has also gotten some looks on the inside and shown that he can make a difference in the middle with his heavy hands and overall physical demeanor,” 247Sports recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins wrote during Bain’s senior season in 2022.
Bain, 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, was named ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year and All-ACC in 2023 with 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 13 TFL. In 2024, he had 23 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 TFL in just 9 games after he missed 4 games due to injuries suffered in the season opener against Florida.
Bain’s Unique Skill Set Might Be NFL’s Future
The idea of the perfect edge rusher being 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 and between 250 to 275 pounds might be out the window. The problem is that’s just a bit too stretched out/light/thin to be expected to continually match up on the inside shoulder of offensive tackles, or, in some cases, head up or outside the guard.
Bain is a player who might represent how the position will evolve in the coming years.
“Teams are searching for bigger defensive ends who can stay on the field for early downs and mitigate the weaknesses that come with seven-man boxes,” Yahoo Sports’ Anthony Licciardi wrote on July 2. ” … who have the frame and play strength to hold up against the run and the athleticism to inspire pass-rushing upside. Looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft, Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. stands out as the next first-round talent from that archetype.”
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