edge rusher NFL prospects NFL Draft 2024 first-round pick Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rueben Bain Jason Licht mock draft draft motivation

Mock drafts consistently projected edge rusher Rueben Bain as a top-10 selection heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Bain remained on the board until the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the 15th overall pick in the first round.

While such a scenario often fuels players to prove teams wrong, Bain took a different approach during his first press conference with the Bucs. He made it clear that his motivation stems from within, not external factors like draft position or teams that passed on him.

"My mindset is always to have a bit of edge to me," Bain said via a team transcript. "I feel like it won't change anything. My motivation is myself. I always want to be the best player on the field no matter what. No outside factor is going to kind of weigh into that. I'm going to play the game just as if I was playing anybody else – that's with all my effort. When you see that, people are going to see the kind of player I am."

Jason Licht, general manager of the Buccaneers, revealed that Bain’s availability at pick No. 15 was a pleasant surprise for the organization. Licht expressed optimism that Bain’s collegiate production would translate successfully to the NFL level, adding that the team plans to celebrate their good fortune if that proves to be the case.

Source: Pro Football Talk
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