NFL mock draft 2026: Saints select Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Welcome back to another year of the SB Nation Community Mock Draft!

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:

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.