The Kansas City Chiefs, with the No. 9 overall pick, are keeping eyes on pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr to improve their defense, which they struggled with last season.

In the 2026 NFL draft, Rueben Bain Jr can be the top pick for the Chiefs with last season's production of 30 solo, 9.5 sack and one interception. His ability to generate pressure from both the edge and interior provides the versatility that defense currently lacks.

The Sports Columnist  of the Chiefs, Sam McDowell, shared that Bain Jr was happy with his interview with the Chiefs, “I felt like I had a real strong interview.”

Even though there is heavy discussion about Bain Jr.'s short arm length and his skipping drills, his stats speak for themselves in terms of his performance. He recorded 54 total tackles, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Yet, this could actually help the Chiefs, as the Chiefs might just get an opportunity to draft him without having to move up.

His interview with the Chiefs is also an indication that he might indeed be a good fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. If the Chiefs do pick Bain, he can also play different spots on the line, creating pressure on the quarterback every single time.

And that's not us or any analyst saying. As Bain Jr. himself told the reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, "I feel like I'm versatile, I've got a high motor. "I can do it at any position at any time with the best effort. And it's on film, it's not something I'm just saying."

But is Rueben Bain Jr.’s versatility and production exactly what the Chiefs needed to transform their defense, or will the concerns surrounding him pose a greater challenge?

Will Bain Jr Arm Length Affect 2026 NFL Draft Spot?

Bain Jr has the third-shortest arm length ever recorded for a defensive end since 1999.

This has left several NFL teams worried that Bain Jr.’s arms, which measured just under 31 inches, might make it harder for him to block and tackle at the professional level. Historically, most successful edge rushers have much longer reach to help them control their opponents.

But he doesn't feel like it's an issue. As he notes, "None of the teams seem to be too concerned with it as long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk and play with technique, nobody really asked me about it. People keep bringing that up out of nowhere, but no team, like I said, really brought it up to me, so I don’t bring it up either."

Shows his confidence in himself despite the criticism. What do you think? Is he the answer?

Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Joyita Das