The secret is out about Ohio State LB Sonny Styles after the first day of on-field work at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He was undoubtedly a first-round draft pick ahead of his performance at the combine, but now he’s put himself in position to become a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If the draft board plays out a certain way come April, Styles could be on the board when the Kansas City Chiefs come on the clock at pick No. 9.

The question then will be, should the Chiefs take him if he’s available? Let’s dive into it.

Ohio State LB Sonny Styles could be the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft

There’s little denying that after his on-field workout, Styles is one of, if not the most, athletic defenders in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Styles’ A to Z Sports Athletic Composite came in at 93.4. This is an overall percentile that is a weighted combination of Speed Score, Burst Score, Agility Score, and Height/Weight/BMI by position.

Style’s burst score, which measures a player’s lower-body explosiveness and ability to generate power in short, explosive movements, ranked in the top 0.2% of all linebackers at the NFL Scouting Combine thanks to elite marks in the vertical and broad jumps.

There’s something to be said for the on-field production as well. He came to Ohio State as a safety and converted ahead of the 2024 college football season, a year during which Styles became a national champion. Over the past two seasons, he’s amassed 182 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception, eight passes defended, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles.

Could he realistically be the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft class?

I spoke to A to Z Sports’ Destin Adams, who has been a big proponent of Styles as the No. 1-ranked player in this draft class.

“This draft class lacks certified blue-chip prospects at most positions. In my opinion, Sonny Styles is one of two in the class, with the other being his Ohio State Buckeyes teammate, Caleb Downs. Like always, there are some high upside prospects, and then there are some high floor prospects, but Styles is the best of both worlds.

“I’ve been high on Styles for quite some time. Last year, when it was up in the air on whether he would declare for the 2025 NFL Draft or return to Ohio State, I actually already had a first-round grade on the LB.

“His ability to play sideline-to-sideline and always be in the right spot is evident on film. You don’t see LBs with such high football IQ and obvious athletic ability very often. He’s a special LB prospect and has been the top player on my 2026 NFL Big Board since January, and I haven’t looked back.”

Why Ohio State LB Sonny Styles might make sense for the Chiefs at pick No. 9

You might look at the position that Styles plays and scoff at the idea of taking him at No. 9, but the Chiefs are truly at a bit of a crossroads with the linebackers corps over the next two seasons. Leo Chenal is a pending free agent, Drue Tranquill is a cut candidate, and Kansas City can save $15 million against the salary cap if they were to cut Nick Bolton in 2027. It’s entirely possible that the group starting in 2025 will be gone in a year’s time.

As far as scheme fit goes, Styles is the type of versatile chess piece you want on your defense if you’re Steve Spagnuolo. He has the ability to play all three linebacker positions, but he can also be a matchup nightmare in coverage as a former safety converted to the position.

“It starts with being a versatile linebacker,” Styles told reporters. “I think I can play the MIKE, WILL, SAM. I can do all three at a high level, and I think I’m a very athletic player, and it shows up in my game. I think I showed this last year, I can be like a true MIKE, think I showed I can stop the run. Showed some physicality this year. I can be a lot more effective in zone coverages if I keep working that part of my game, I think I’ve shown I can feel routes, that type of thing. But not a lot of ball disruption, especially this past year. With my athleticism, if I keep working on that, I should be a real threat in zone drops.’’

Styles also has value as an edge rusher as well. He wasn’t deployed much that way in 2025, but if you go back to his 2024 tape with the Buckeyes, he was used there and was effective. It’s not a minor consideration with the Chiefs looking to improve their pass rush, but also the financial implications of this pick. Whoever K.C. takes at pick No. 9 is expected to receive a four-year deal worth $31 million based on the CBA rookie wage requirements for that draft slot. That would mean the Chiefs would have two linebackers on the roster who rank in the top 15 in total contract value during the 2026 NFL season. That might be a tough pill to swallow in the interim, but if they can get value out of Styles as a pass rusher, in addition to linebacker duties, it’d undoubtedly be worthwhile.