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Few players in professional sports come to their teams with more hope and expectations than an NFL first-round draft pick.
First-round picks in Major League Baseball? Even the top prospects usually have to marinate in the minors for a year or two before getting called up to the big leagues.
Same thing for NHL draftees. Unless you're someone of the caliber of a Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, it may take some time before a player is ready to take on the role of franchise savior.
NBA? Don't get me started. Unless a player is a top-10 pick, sometimes even top-5, expectations are almost non-existent. There are plenty of lottery picks who just hope to crack the rotation as a rookie, while those picked later in Round 1 often find themselves buried on the bench until they show some development. Some even decide to stay in their pro leagues in Europe or wherever for a year or two before coming to the NBA.
Not the NFL. If a player gets picked in the first round, he is usually expected to become an immediate starter or at least an immediate contributor. First-round picks bring the hope of fresh talent added to the team, usually at a position of need, despite teams insisting they don't draft for need.
Ever since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he has looked the part of a franchise cornerstone. Bain has been praised for his football IQ, compared to an NFL legend, and made Lavonte David second-guess retiring because it took away his chance to play alongside the prized rookie.
Needless to say, the expectations for Bain's rookie season are very high, even higher than the average NFL first-rounder.
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic wrote about his Year 1 expectations for each 2026 first-round pick, and he expects Bain's career to get off to a fast start.
There is no way Bain should have lasted until pick 15. He was widely considered either the best or second-best defensive player in the draft. His ability to get to the quarterback is one of the most sought-after traits NFL teams crave, and he is also a plus defender against the run.
Bain was everything you could want out of a first-round pick.
However, after Bain's arms measured shorter than NFL standards for edge rushers, he plummeted down draft boards. Tampa ended up having one of the draft's top talents fall right into its lap in the middle of Round 1. The Bucs wouldn't risk losing out on Bain, even turning down a substantial offer to move down only two spots.
Baumgardner believes that his draft-night fall will cause Bain to play with a chip on his shoulders as he looks to make all the teams who passed on him look like fools.
"Bain has a relatively clear path to a starting job opposite Yaya Diaby. And though it won’t be handed to him, expect to see some serious fire from the former Hurricane. Scouts overthought Bain more than any other player in this class — and Bain knows it. Health permitting, we should see a fast start from the Bucs rookie."
Not only is Bain expected to start immediately, but he also looks like he may instantly become Tampa's top pass rusher. Bain's debut is the most anticipated by a Bucs rookie in a long time.
Bain has looked like a stud since the day he arrived in Tampa. Coaches and teammates have done nothing but gush about him all offseason. It has reached the point where expectations for Bain's rookie season may be unfair.
He is now the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been selected to the preseason All-Rookie Team. It will seem like a disappointment if Bain doesn't bring home the DROY award.
Bain is expected to become the face of the next generation of Tampa's defense. Everything he has done to this point has only heightened the expectations and excitement for his rookie season.
The regular season is only a few short weeks away. It won't be long until we find out if Bain meets his sky-high expectations.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
First-round picks in Major League Baseball? Even the top prospects usually have to marinate in the minors for a year or two before getting called up to the big leagues.
Same thing for NHL draftees. Unless you're someone of the caliber of a Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, it may take some time before a player is ready to take on the role of franchise savior.
NBA? Don't get me started. Unless a player is a top-10 pick, sometimes even top-5, expectations are almost non-existent. There are plenty of lottery picks who just hope to crack the rotation as a rookie, while those picked later in Round 1 often find themselves buried on the bench until they show some development. Some even decide to stay in their pro leagues in Europe or wherever for a year or two before coming to the NBA.
Not the NFL. If a player gets picked in the first round, he is usually expected to become an immediate starter or at least an immediate contributor. First-round picks bring the hope of fresh talent added to the team, usually at a position of need, despite teams insisting they don't draft for need.
Ever since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he has looked the part of a franchise cornerstone. Bain has been praised for his football IQ, compared to an NFL legend, and made Lavonte David second-guess retiring because it took away his chance to play alongside the prized rookie.
Needless to say, the expectations for Bain's rookie season are very high, even higher than the average NFL first-rounder.
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic wrote about his Year 1 expectations for each 2026 first-round pick, and he expects Bain's career to get off to a fast start.
Chip On His Shoulders
There is no way Bain should have lasted until pick 15. He was widely considered either the best or second-best defensive player in the draft. His ability to get to the quarterback is one of the most sought-after traits NFL teams crave, and he is also a plus defender against the run.
Bain was everything you could want out of a first-round pick.
However, after Bain's arms measured shorter than NFL standards for edge rushers, he plummeted down draft boards. Tampa ended up having one of the draft's top talents fall right into its lap in the middle of Round 1. The Bucs wouldn't risk losing out on Bain, even turning down a substantial offer to move down only two spots.
Baumgardner believes that his draft-night fall will cause Bain to play with a chip on his shoulders as he looks to make all the teams who passed on him look like fools.
"Bain has a relatively clear path to a starting job opposite Yaya Diaby. And though it won’t be handed to him, expect to see some serious fire from the former Hurricane. Scouts overthought Bain more than any other player in this class — and Bain knows it. Health permitting, we should see a fast start from the Bucs rookie."
Not only is Bain expected to start immediately, but he also looks like he may instantly become Tampa's top pass rusher. Bain's debut is the most anticipated by a Bucs rookie in a long time.
Final Thoughts
Bain has looked like a stud since the day he arrived in Tampa. Coaches and teammates have done nothing but gush about him all offseason. It has reached the point where expectations for Bain's rookie season may be unfair.
He is now the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been selected to the preseason All-Rookie Team. It will seem like a disappointment if Bain doesn't bring home the DROY award.
Bain is expected to become the face of the next generation of Tampa's defense. Everything he has done to this point has only heightened the expectations and excitement for his rookie season.
The regular season is only a few short weeks away. It won't be long until we find out if Bain meets his sky-high expectations.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
