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Could the Kansas City Chiefs make a splash by drafting Miami DL Rueben Bain Jr.?
Because they’re the Dallas Cowboys and because they’re owned by Jerry Jones, trying to predict the future feels, to some extent, like a futile task.
But this year, of all years, with the NFL’s worst defense and arguably its best offense, the Cowboys need to take 2 defensive players with their 2 1st round picks at No. 12 and No. 20.
If common sense prevails, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks predicts the Cowboys will get a building block for not just the defense but the entire franchise at No. 12 overall with Miami All-American edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who has drawn comparisons to 2-time Super Bowl champion and NFL All-Pro edge rusher Brandon Graham.
“(Bain) can energize a veteran-laden front that features Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary,” Brooks wrote. “Bain’s rugged game could prompt new defensive coordinator Christian Parker to push for the Brandon Graham-like disruptor.”
Rueben Bain: Unique College Football Superstar
There haven’t been many defensive line prospects, ever, like Bain, who could change Dallas’ fortunes over the next decade and is a player comparable to even Micah Parsons in terms of upside.
The entire nation finally got a chance to witness Bain’s greatness as he led the Hurricanes on an improbable run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where they lost to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.
While critics have noted Bain’s arm length as a weakness, that seems like something we will all look back on in 5 years as being a ridiculous critique.
“Note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams … he can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.”
Brandon Graham: 2-Time Super Bowl Champ, All-Pro
Graham is a pretty spot-on comparison for Bain — a nasty player on the defensive front who can play multiple positions. Incredibly, they are actually the same size at 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds.
If Bain could craft a career like Graham’s, it would mean the Cowboys hit a home run with the pick.
Graham, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, played for the Philadelphia Eagles his entire career and retired after he won his 2nd Super Bowl following the 2024 season. He came out of retirement for a 16th season with the Eagles in 2025, when he played in 9 regular-season games. He earned NFL All-Pro honors in 2016 and made the Pro Bowl in 2020.
In Eagles history, Graham leads the franchise in career games played (215) and is 3rd in career sacks (79.5). That doesn’t include an additional 13 career playoff games to go with 5.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, 6 TFL, and 2 forced fumbles, including the game-winning strip sack of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII following the 2017 season.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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