New Orleans Saints Willing To Invest In Outliers Like Rueben Bain Jr. If Production Is Proven

The New Orleans Saints are willing to draft a physical outlier like Reuben Bain Jr. if he demonstrates elite production—proving that on-field impact can outweigh traditional prototype concerns. Host Ross Jackson argues that Saints' offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has made it clear: 'You've got to be a really productive player if you're slightly off the prototype.' Bain, despite having one of the shortest arm lengths in NFL draft history, has 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks over three seasons at Miami, with a proven ability to dominate in fourth quarters. This production, Jackson asserts, could justify a top-10 pick despite the physical red flags. However, the Saints have a deep-rooted preference for premium positions—tackles, edge rushers, cornerbacks, and wide receivers—evidenced by their last seven first-round picks all falling into those categories. While Bain is the only non-premium-position player in that group, Jackson doubts the Saints would bypass a high-upside wide receiver or cornerback for him, even if he’s the most productive player available. The episode ends with a tease of a mock draft, suggesting the Saints may surprise with a 'sneaky curveball' at pick eight.