Cowboys Eye Trade-Up Path as Rueben Bain Jr. Emerges as Ideal Defensive Target

Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. continues to be one of the more polarizing draft prospects among analysts and prognosticators, but NFL evaluators continue to rave about him as a top 10 selection in this draft.

And at a time when some in the industry are convinced the Cowboys are mulling a trade into the top 10, SportsBoom, by the way, are not, Bain could be the prospect who makes the most sense for them. 

It would cost massive draft capital for Dallas to move into the top three, from pick 12, to position to grab Arvell Reese or David Bailey; but a move up nine, where the Chiefs are currently selecting could make sense.

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That’s a spot where Kansas City could still land a top offensive lineman, and Dallas could get one of the top three defensive linemen in the draft. 

Of course, that would imply Bain would still be available at that pick, which is far from certain.

One longtime NFL executive, in his personal mock draft, had Bain going to the Commanders with the seventh pick. 

One general manager told me he does not believe Bain would get past the Saints with the eighth pick and another executive with ties to Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he believe Bain is an intriguing enough prospect that he would give Kansas City significant pause about taking even over a pass protector or other options.

“He’s going in the back end of the top 10,” the GM said. “I just don’t know exactly where.”

Another longtime personnel exec said: "I think Andy would jump all over this kid if he's sitting there."

The issue of Bane’s arm length is not going to be the detriment that many posed it to be prior to the scouting combine in February. His ability to generate power whether positioned in the interior of the defensive line or off the edge is a major carrying trait and the other top defensive line prospects have some issues and characteristics that could keep them from being a sure thing as well.

“If you told me in 10 years that Bain had a better career than Reese or Bailey I wouldn’t flinch,” said one evaluator, who believes Bain is one of the three best defensive players in this draft.