Mel Kiper and the #3 pick. 2026

[Adrian]

Tyler Drake
@Tdrake4sports
·
2h
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. told
@WolfandLuke
that Rueben Bain Jr. is the toughest dude this NFL Draft.

"Who plays fierce? That's the million-dollar question. You look on the defensive side of the ball, Rueben Bain Jr. is probably that guy. ... The hands, the power, the want-to."

 

[Adrian]

Tyler Drake
@Tdrake4sports
·
1h
More from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. while on with
@WolfandLuke
today:

- The Cardinals trading down out of the No. 3 pick is "probably not going to happen."

- Taking Miami OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 3 is "a little rich" for him.

- A lot has been made about David Bailey and Arvell Reese, but "the better linebacker this year if you look game to game was Ohio State's Sonny Styles. ... He's a rare talent."

 

[Adrian]

Some what ot:

Tyler Drake
@Tdrake4sports
·
4h
Good stuff from
@dpbrugler
on with
@Bickley_Marotta
talking QB prospects and the Cardinals.

- Likes LSU's Garrett Nussmeier as a later-round QB prospect for the Cardinals who could come in and start games early on.

"There's a lot to like about his command, the way he operates."

- Penn State's Drew Allar brings high-risk, high-reward as a late-round developmental option.

- NDSU's Cole Payton is another developmental guy but is a really good athlete.

- Believes Alabama's Ty Simpson will be a second-round pick.

 

[Shane]

Barf “ABB” anybody but Bain

 

[Adrian]

SleeperCardinals

@SleeperAZCards
·
44m
Big Ten Network football analyst
@HowardGriffith
on Arvell Reese:

"First of all, when you see him, it's like 'Oh my goodness.' You hear people talk about all the time, 'the first guy off the bus just scares everybody,' he's one of those players."

 

[Shane]

Chances of Bain being a dominant player in the NFL is just too slim. He would literally be the one statistical anomaly of the last 30 years I’d rather not take the chance. Especially at number three.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Chances of Bain being a dominant player in the NFL is just too slim. He would literally be the one statistical anomaly of the last 30 years I’d rather not take the chance. Especially at number three.

And if he is that guy and we didn't take him, I am fine with it.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Tyler Drake
@Tdrake4sports
·
1h
More from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. while on with
@WolfandLuke
today:

- The Cardinals trading down out of the No. 3 pick is "probably not going to happen."

- Taking Miami OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 3 is "a little rich" for him.

- A lot has been made about David Bailey and Arvell Reese, but "the better linebacker this year if you look game to game was Ohio State's Sonny Styles. ... He's a rare talent."

Sonny Styles game play doesn't compare to Reese.

 

[outcent13]

I know they aren’t the same player but Bain gives me Aaron Donald vibes. Very similar numbers their junior year.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Tyler Drake
@Tdrake4sports
·
2h
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. told
@WolfandLuke
that Rueben Bain Jr. is the toughest dude this NFL Draft.

"Who plays fierce? That's the million-dollar question. You look on the defensive side of the ball, Rueben Bain Jr. is probably that guy. ... The hands, the power, the want-to."

A T.Rex with short arms is still a T. Rex.

 

[Shane]

A T.Rex with short arms is still a T. Rex.

Tell that to every other T-Rex of the last 30 years who never developed into a dominant play player at the NFL level….. literally none!

 

[GimmedaBall]

Tell that to every other T-Rex of the last 30 years who never developed into a dominant play player at the NFL level….. literally none!

You go tell a T-Rex his arms are too short to play in the NFL.

Here's the low-down on arm length:

These links do not want to display here, so websearch on

NFL Players With Shockingly Short Arms for Their Height​

and

What Rueben Bain Jr.'s Short Arm Measurement Could Mean for Bengals' Chances of Drafting Him​

PS Marcus Golden with Cards had 'short' arms but still had 51 sacks in 9 seasons

 

[Shane]

You go tell a T-Rex his arms are too short to play in the NFL.

Here's the low-down on arm length:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

What Rueben Bain Jr.'s short arm measurement could mean for the Bengals' chances of drafting him.

In 10 drafts from 2015-24, only seven edge rushers with arm lengths shorter than 32 inches were selected. Two of the seven were drafted by the Bengals.

www.si.com

PS Marcus Golden with Cards had 'short' arms but still had 51 sacks in 9 seasons

Yep, and he was all hustle not a dominant player. That’s why he went where he did and his arms were an inch longer than Bains. I’ll pass on Bain hoping he’s the statistical anomaly.

 

[HairZach]

Chances of Bain being a dominant player in the NFL is just too slim. He would literally be the one statistical anomaly of the last 30 years I’d rather not take the chance. Especially at number three.

I'll sell you on him. Here's what Bain brings: The most pressures of a college football rusher in a single season since 2017 (83), and the versatility to line up wide, over tackle, or as a 3 technique.

To me the anomaly already happened with him being by far the best defensive player in college football last year. Its not like there are short arm rushers like Bain dominating college every year who get to the NFL and can't play. The arms issue is more of a theoretical cap on his ceiling than a sign he can't play; IE he won't be Myles Garret. He's still universally considered a top 10 pick, that wouldn't be the case if scouts thought his arms meant he would be bad.

Its the same argument between Aiden Hutchinson and Travon Walker a few years back. There was a ton of talk pre-draft about how Hutchinson's arm length was supposed to limit him in the NFL. But now (despite Walker developing into a good player), everyone recognizes that Hutchinson should have been taken first. Bain's wingspan is .8 inches shorter than Hutchinson's. Is that .8 inches the breaking point? Are you willing to pass a on a potential game changing pass rusher in favor of a RB/RT/Simmons repeat because of .8 inches? His wingspan is .125 inches shorter than Aaron Donald's.

So what do you want? The project, or the game wrecker? Every year there are "project" prospects with ideal measurements like Reese, and prospects without the measurables with polished technique and production like Bain. I like the hit rate for the "Bain" archetype far more.

Right now every fanbase outside of the top 5 is salivating at the thought of Bain falling to them.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Yep, and he was all hustle not a dominant player. That’s why he went where he did and his arms were an inch longer than Bains. I’ll pass on Bain hoping he’s the statistical anomaly.

The bigger problem was not being able to 'High-5' his teammates after a good play. Took him forever to get off the ground after making a tackle. Couldn't keep up his strength/conditioning when it came to bench presses and push-ups.

 

[GimmedaBall]

As long as we stick with T. Rex we're good to go. Those arms were meant to clutch the prey close while the jaws did the work. Don't even think about drafting a Carnotaurus or worse, a Skorpiovnator.

 

[GimmedaBall]

I'll sell you on him. Here's what Bain brings: The most pressures of college football rusher in a single season since 2017 (83) and the versatility to line up wide, over tackle, or as a 3 technique.

To me the anomaly already happened with him being by far the best defensive player in college football last year. Its not like there are short arm rushers like Bain dominating college every year who get to the NFL and can't play. The arms issue is more of a theoretical cap on his ceiling than a sign he can't play; IE he won't be Myles Garret. He's still universally considered a top 10 pick, that wouldn't be the case if scouts thought his arms meant he would be bad.

Its the same argument between Aiden Hutchinson and Travon Walker a few years back. There was a ton of talk pre-draft about how Hutchinson's arm length was supposed to limit him in the NFL. But now (despite Walker developing into a good player), everyone recognizes that Hutchinson should have been taken first. Bain's wingspan is .8 inches shorter than Hutchinson's. Is that .8 inches the breaking point? Are you willing to pass a on a potential game changing pass rusher in favor of a RB/RT/Simmons repeat because of .8 inches? His wingspan is .125 inches shorter than Aaron Donald's.

So what do you want? The project, or the game wrecker? Every year there are "project" prospects with ideal measurements like Reese, and prospects without the measurables with polished technique and production like Bain. I like the hit rate for the "Bain" archetype far more.

Right now every fanbase outside of the top 5 is salivating at the thought of Bain falling to them.

I've been told that sometimes 0.8 inches can make all the difference.

 

[Stout]

Tell that to every other T-Rex of the last 30 years who never developed into a dominant play player at the NFL level….. literally none!

T-Rexes are extinct.

 

[Harry]

Barf “ABB” anybody but Bain

I think Bain is fine (not at 3) if you accept he likely ends up playing inside, but not at end.

 

[Harry]

Sonny Styles game play doesn't compare to Reese.

When Reese was on his hot streak this is accurate. My concern is Styles great athleticism exceeds his accomplishments. He didn’t play like a high impact player IMO.