The NFL Scouting Combine is upon us. For the Washington Commanders, it will give fans a better idea of who the team may decide to draft with its No. 7 overall pick in late April.
It sounds like there's already one prospect for whom general manager Adam Peters has some questions.
Peters and head coach Dan Quinn both met with the media ahead of the festivities to discuss a variety of offseason topics. The front-office leader addressed the team's new coordinator hirings and plans for free agency, while also hinting at what Washington might be looking for in its top-10 selection.
One subject that conveniently came up? Arm length. And it's no secret who this was referring to.
Adam Peters' comments could be taken in multiple ways regarding Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami Hurricanes' star edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is expected to be among the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. His power, speed, and athleticism combine for the profile of a game-wrecking defensive end. The only problem? His arms are not the longest for the position, to put it mildly.
If you type "Rueben Bain Jr." into a Google search, the first suggestion is "arm length." It's become a meme. It's all anyone will talk about with him — including Peters, who noted that it's generally best for a pass-rusher to have long arms.
But he didn't close the door on Bain, and his comments could just as easily be interpreted as an endorsement of him.
"It's really all about how well they play with whatever arm length they have... Some guys have shorter arms that play with great length and extension all the time. Some guys have really long arms that don't use that."Adam Peters via Commanders.com
At the end of the day, skill always trumps raw measurables.
You can have a prospect who's built like a cheat code Madden player, but if they can't perform, they can't play the game. On the other hand, Bain's arms never stopped him from being a dominant force in college, and there's no reason to suspect they'll hold him back in the NFL either.
Bain is a unique prospect who is projected to go in the top 10, perhaps even the top five. The fact that he's this highly touted despite this glaring deficiency only shows how good he is. If he is there for Washington at No. 7, he will have to be considered.
But ultimately, it's Peters' decision how much his arms will affect Washington's thinking.