The Kansas City Chiefs may have received exactly what they needed from Rueben Bain Jr. this week — even without seeing him work out.
The Miami Hurricanes edge rusher skipped on-field drills at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine but met with teams in Indianapolis, including Kansas City. The Chiefs hold the No. 9 overall pick in April’s draft and are evaluating pass rushers closely.
According to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, Bain came away pleased with his conversation.
“I felt like I had a real strong interview,” Bain Jr. said of his discussions with Kansas City’s decision-makers.
Chiefs Interview With Rueben Bain Jr. Carries Weight After Workout Decision
Bain’s choice not to participate in combine drills drew attention, particularly for a player projected as a potential top-10 pick. However, his focus this week centered on team meetings rather than testing numbers.
Arm length has been a frequent topic in draft circles, but Bain made clear that teams have not pressed him on it.
“None of the teams seem to be too concerned with it,” Bain told NFL.com on Wednesday in Indianapolis. “I will just talk the talk and walk the walk … Nobody is really asking me about it.”
His arms are expected to measure around 31 inches, with 33 inches often considered ideal for NFL edge rushers. Still, Bain indicated the narrative has been louder in media discussions than in team interviews.
“People keep bringing that up out of nowhere, but no teams brought it up to me, so I don’t bring it up either,” Bain Jr. said. “As long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody actually cares about it.”
“I didn’t hear it until later in the year, but it kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life,” he added. “I don’t give it the time of day, honestly.”
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Kansas City enters the 2026 NFL Draft needing improvement along the defensive front. The Chiefs recorded 33 sacks in 2025, ranking 26th in the league.
General manager Brett Veach emphasized the value of interviews during the evaluation process.
“Our college scouts do a great job of painting the picture and having me, the coaching staff, and everyone in that room prepped,” Veach said. “It’s just a pathway to keep digging and get as much information as possible.”
Even without testing, Bain’s production remains strong. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound pass rusher totaled 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss across 38 career games at Miami.
In 2025, he posted 9.5 sacks and helped lead the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He added five sacks in three postseason contests and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
His résumé keeps him firmly in the early first-round conversation.
While skipping drills created discussion, Bain’s comments suggest he believes his film and interviews — including the one with Kansas City — speak for themselves.
With the Chiefs holding a premium pick and searching for defensive impact, Bain remains a name to watch as draft day approaches.
Kansas City Chiefs Get Positive Review From Rueben Bain Jr.