Sonny Styles 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Ohio State, Linebacker

Sonny Styles is the ultimate three-down defensive weapon at linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor

Jan 25, 2026 5:11 PM EST

© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Height: 6-5
Weight: 243 Pounds
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Devin Lloyd, Isaiah Simmons

2026 NFL Combine Results

Sonny Styles, Ohio State, Linebacker

Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Pros of Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles essentially never misses a tackle, missing just one on nearly 700 defensive snaps in 2025. There hasn’t been a tackler this consistent and disciplined in several NFL Draft classes.
Styles’ first and best strength dating back to his time as a recruit was rangy coverage, thanks to his freak build and athleticism. He struggled a bit to learn proper coverage techniques in a variety of pre-snap alignments and assignments that Ohio State’s defense was asking him to play in back in 2023. Now, he’s a major defensive weapon in coverage who keeps everything in front of him (averaging just 6.3 yards per reception allowed in 2025).
He’s one of the most experienced linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft class, playing nearly 2,200 total snaps for the Ohio State Buckeyes in a wide variety of roles — seeing snaps in all four years. Styles should be able to step in as a day one difference-making starter and possible defensive rookie of the year candidate in the NFL.

Cons of Sonny Styles

Styles can be an all-or-nothing player due to his aggression. He can over-pursue to try an create a negative play, but then wash himself out of run plays taking a tough angle or incorrect gap selection from time to time.
He doesn’t have a truly natural position for him at this point in his career. Yes, he was a safety, and played well there at times. Yes, he’s become one of the best tacklers in the game, regardless of position. However, there are definitely going to be questions about exact fit and role at the next level, and whether his talent remains transcendent in the NFL.
This one can be somewhat related to the first two cons. Styles does his best work in space, but isn’t the most instinctive amid the chaos of runs that stay inside the tackles. This likely stems from his mix of experience as a linebacker and defensive back, but his athleticism hides this, at times.

Background

Sonny Styles is the son of Lorenzo Styles, a former Ohio State Buckeyes, Atlanta Falcons, and St. Louis Rams linebacker who played his best football throughout the 1990s. Styles was a five star safety recruit from Pickering, Ohio who immediately asserted himself as at least a rotational player on defense as a true freshman. Coming out of high school he was already being compared to players like Isaiah Simmons (first round pick by the Cardinals) because of his long, lanky, build and athleticism that could translate in any back-seven defensive role (just not along the defensive line). He spent his first two seasons at Ohio State playing more safety than anything. He then switched to linebacker full-time for both 2024 and 2025 to utilize his gifts in space and strengths as a tackler.

Player Evaluation

Styles definitely enters the NFL considered a “tweener” thanks to his split time between defensive back and linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but he is so much more than that. Given his surefire consistent tackling abilities and strength in space he could plug in immediately as an every down defensive weapon. He’s extremely experienced, role-versatile, intelligent, and has demonstrated the aptitude to learn any position on defense.

Styles’ elite level athleticism may make him the best raw talent in the 2026 NFL Draft class.His 6-5, 240+ pound frame helps him hold up against the run even better than he stays with shifty wide receivers and tight ends in coverage. Yes, he still has to get better at instinctual run-fitting and not over-pursuing on the edges. Yes, he needs to likely find a true home of a position in the NFL. Still, Styles’ upside as an elite-level NFL athlete that can stay on the field for every down and dominate in both run defense and coverage like Devin Lloyd (for the Jacksonville Jaguars) is tantalizing.