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A Washington Commanders veteran lineman has a shocking take about polarizing 2026 NFL draft prospect, edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
Finding a game-changing edge-rusher in either free agency or the 2026 NFL draft should be the priority for the Washington Commanders, and they needn’t worry about any concerns regarding the physical dimensions of one of the highest-profile members of this year’s rookie class.
The former Miami Hurricanes standout Rueben Bain Jr. is the latest prospect to be blighted by doubts about his arm length, but returning Commanders offensive lineman Andrew Wylie has a shocking take.
Wylie, recently re-signed on a two-year deal, told Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier of 106.7 The Fan how “certain type of edge-rushers can get the job done, you know, with just like extreme effort, not giving up on a play. And I feel like those certain intangibles that get measured, they’re kind of like attributes, positive attributes, but not necessarily like negatives. So I think, you know, if you’re just looking at how hard a guy works and you know how true he is to his craft, and like how much he wants to get better are like the true things you need to like at, and then all those, you know, body-type measurements and comparisons, you know, they really only can like help an argument in my opinion.”
This is a highly credible take about a draft prospect who is polarizing, but who’s also somebody a Commanders team starved of playmakers along the front seven can’t ignore if he’s still available with the seventh-overall pick.
Andrew Wylie’s Opinion on Rueben Bain Jr. Matters
Edge-rusher is where the Commanders need most help, even with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones promising more creative and chaotic pressure schemes. Jones’ blitz packages will manufacture more heat on the pocket and may even turn an incumbent edge defender into a star, but the Commanders have a better chance of making their new defense work with an actual star up front.
Bain qualifies, and Jones should take heed of Wylie’s take dismissing concerns about arm length. Wylie knows of what he speaks as a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs, who once stepped into the big game and kept then-Philadelphia Eagles 16-sack edge-rusher Haason Reddick completely under wraps.
Replicating that performance has eluded Wylie since he joined the Commanders in 2023, but he remains an invaluable swing offensive tackle. He’s somebody who could still have a role to play if the team can’t work out an extension with five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Or if head coach Dan Quinn becomes unconvinced Josh Conerly Jr. will develop into a credible starting right tackle.
Conerly was last year’s first-round pick, but the Commanders need more of a sure thing from their top choice in 2026. Preferably, a young athlete with the ability to transform a suspect defense.
Rueben Bain Jr. Can Solve Commanders’ Biggest Problem
What a new-look unit needs most is a pass-rusher able to take over games from both edges or the interior. Bain qualifies as a dynamic 6-foot-2, 263-pounder who used his last season in Miami to log 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, per Sports Reference.
The on-field numbers are impressive, but worries have grown about arms that measure at less than 31 inches. Yet, Bain told reporters at the annual Scouting Combine, “People keep bringing that up out of nowhere, but no teams brought it up to me, so I don’t bring it up either. As long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody actually cares about it. It kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life and I just ain’t give it the time of day, honestly,” per SNY.tv.
Maybe pro teams weren’t asking, but many would likely have been reassured by seeing Bain work out in Indianapolis. He didn’t, but Bain did confirm he met with the Commanders and “it was great. Coach Quinn he has a history with coach JT.”
JT is a reference to NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who spent the 2008 season in Washington as part of a decorated career that ended with 139.5 sacks. Taylor’s backing as Bain’s position coach in college only increases the 21-year-old’s impressive pedigree, but the Commanders would still need to take a leap of faith about his physical profile transitioning well to this level.
Perhaps a comparison between Bain and former Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins short-armed pressure specialist Melvin Ingram III would help convince Quinn and Jones. The comparison was made by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who noted the similar measurements between both players.
A more likely incentive would be finding Bain still on the board when the Commanders make their first pick. The chance to get a high-impact, roving disruptor at a position devoid of elite talent would surely be too great to resist.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
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