Welcome back to another year of the SB Nation Community Mock Draft!
NFL mock draft 2026: Saints select Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The Saints fail to find a trade partner, so they stuck and picked Rueben Bain Jr. out of Miami with the eighth pick.
As we do every draft season, all 32 NFL sites at SB Nation come together to fill out an entire first-round mock draft leading up to the actual event that takes place from April 23-25. One by one, our site managers will make their picks and provide their reasoning behind the selection. From there, I will provide further analysis on top of giving a final opinion on the pick!
Without further ado, let’s keep this thing rolling!
With the eighth overall pick in the 2026 SB Nation Community Mock Draft, Canal Street Chronicle’s Tina Howell and the New Orleans Saints pick Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami!
Howell’s analysis:
NFL
SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: With the 8th pick the New Orleans Saints select...
The Saints made some calls attempting to move down the draft board, however, there were no suitors. So, instead New Orleans filled a position of need on defense by selecting Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr.
The relationship between Saints and Cam Jordan is still currently in limbo and regardless, even if he re-signs with the team or not, defensive end is a position that needs to be filled especially when looking for a long-term solution.
Bain is a talented pass-rusher that could be heavily utilized in New Orleans, opposite of Chase Young, who is coming off a career year. He put on a display of elite athleticism at Miami, recording 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks in 38 games and I think if it wasn’t for the concern of his arm size, Bain would never have fallen to the Saints. However, Bain has the skills to be one of the top pass rushers of the future so the risk at taking him 8th overall is definitely worth the reward.
Rec 7ReplyRead 3 replies
My analysis: The edge rusher position is just too much of a premium not to take one high, even if there’s some pretty notable physical shortcomings that paint a less-than-clear picture of his future. Historically, there is a ceiling for pass rushers with arms as short as Bain’s. At the same time, the film is just that good and it’s hard not to want to root for him every step of the way to prove that his arm length is just a number.
I agree with Howell’s process here that the Saints could benefit from a trade back and still land notable players at positions of need, but without a partner found, she stuck and picked the best player available at a crucial spot for Brandon Staley’s defense.
See More:
