The Cincinnati Bengals missed the NFL Playoffs for the third consecutive year, finishing with a record of 6-11. Star quarterback Joe Burrow was sidelined for most of the season due to an injury.
Not long ago, the Bengals represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. To return to that level of success, they need to make significant improvements to their defense. Over the past two seasons, the Bengals have struggled with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, finishing with the second-worst performance last year.
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The team is likely to lose star EDGE Trey Hendrickson to free agency after paying him $29 million last season. As a result, they will need to find a replacement for him. CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson believes that they may find that replacement in Miami Hurricanes standout EDGE Rueben Bain.
Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) celebrates after a sack.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
“Depending on the day, Reese and Bain could both be off the board inside the top five, or somehow still be available between picks 6-10,” Wilson wrote. “This has very little to do with the players and almost everything to do with how teams ultimately stack their boards. Whatever the explanation, the Bengals would be ecstatic to see Bain staring them in the face at No. 10.”
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If Cincinnati wants to rebuild its defensive identity, Bain offers proven production. The former Miami standout totaled 20.5 career sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss, consistently winning with explosiveness and power off the edge. His ability to generate pressure without heavy blitz support would be especially valuable for a unit that has struggled to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
However, Bain’s evaluation isn’t without debate. His 30 7/8-inch arm length measured at the combine falls below the preferred threshold for many NFL teams at the EDGE position. Shorter arms can make it more difficult to disengage from longer NFL tackles and consistently set the edge against the run. For some front offices, that measurable could push him down draft boards despite elite tape.
For Cincinnati, the decision may come down to projection versus proof. With Burrow expected back healthy, the franchise’s window reopens, but only if the defense improves. If the Bengals prioritize on-field production over prototypical traits, Bain could step in as an immediate pass-rush contributor and long-term replacement for Hendrickson.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.