Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
We’re answering the biggest questions about the draft. With that in mind, here are five:
How much does Miami Hurricanes DE Rueben Bain Jr.’s arm length matter?
During the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Bain’s arms measured at 30 7/8 inches, well below average for NFL edge-rushers (33 1/2 inches). Per Mockdraftable, former Ohio State Buckeyes DE Nate Williams had the shortest arm measurements (30 5/8 inches) at the combine since 1999. He went undrafted and never played a regular-season game.
Bain’s arms, however, didn’t prevent him from becoming a wrecking ball at Miami. The 6-foot-2, 263-pounder logged a career-high 15.5 tackles for loss in 2025.
Talent evaluators don’t seem to care much about Bain’s shorter arms, either. In his latest mock draft — which features thoughts and opinions from league executives — The Athletic’s Mike Sando has the Washington Commanders taking him with pick No. 7.
“I could see Bain going as high as 2 to the Jets,” an executive told Sando. “He reminds me of Terrell Suggs, someone who can bring that play style to your defense — a heavy-handed, old-school player who is the most physical of the edge guys.”
Former Baltimore Ravens star Suggs — who ranks eighth in career sacks (139) since 1982 — lacked ideal arm length (32 inches) for a pass-rusher. He turned out fine.
Did Penn State Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar miss an opportunity to raise his stock at combine?
Allar (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) could’ve been the QB who rose the most at the combine, but Taylen Green (Arkansas Razorbacks) stole the show. The 6-foot-6, 227-pounder set a record for QBs in the vertical jump (43.5 inches) and ran a 4.36 40-yard dash.
Allar, meanwhile, didn’t run the 40 or jump. He just threw but failed to make a huge impression.
“Drew Allar struggled early, with errant throws on out routes and an initially sloppy performance,” wrote CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, who gave him a B for his throwing session. “At times, he looked like he was fighting his lower body due to inconsistent footwork, but he grew more comfortable as drills progressed and performed his best during the second half of the throwing session.”
NFL Mock Draft Database projects Allar as a third-rounder, which seems about right. His size could make him an intriguing developmental QB, but he struggles under pressure, unlike top NFL starters. Per Sports Info Solutions, he posted a below-average 74.3 passer rating when pressured in four seasons at Penn State.
Where will Vanderbilt Commodores TE Eli Stowers go in the draft after impressive combine?
Stowers (6-foot-4, 239 pounds) likely solidified himself as TE2 in the draft behind Oregon Ducks TE Kenyon Sadiq (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) in Indianapolis. At the combine, he had a vertical jump of 45.5 inches, the best mark for a TE since 2003.
.webp?ssl=1 "The state of play at Williams after three rounds of the 2026 season")
