After winning a national championship with Ohio State following the 2024 season, Sonny Styles had a choice. Would he return or go to the NFL? In order to further hone his abilities and get better as a linebacker, Styles returned to Columbus. Now, as a former captain, Block O recipient, and three-year starter, Styles is off to the NFL with lofty expectations.
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Sonny Styles
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 243 lbs
Arms: TBD
Hands: TBD
40-yard: TBD
Vertical: TBD
Broad jump: TBD
RAS: TBD
School: Ohio State
Position: Linebacker
We will come back and update numbers following the Scouting Combine and/or Pro Day.
Sonny Styles NFL Draft Overview
Hailing from Pickerington Central just outside of Columbus, Styles was an elite safety prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. There was always the feeling that he was a “‘tweener” at safety who could also play linebacker. Regardless, he was considered the second-best safety prospect by 247Sports and the 27th-best player regardless of position after reclassifying from the 2023 class.
As a 17-year-old true freshman, Styles appeared in 12 games at safety, logging nine tackles and one tackle for loss. In 2023, he took over as the starting safety. In 13 games, Styles amassed 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble.
Then, Caleb Downs transferred in, ushering in Styles’ transition to linebacker. He won a one-on-one battle with another former five-star for the starting job, resulting in his breakout campaign. As part of the national championship-winning team, Styles accounted for 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
He could have tested his way into the first round of last year’s draft, but he elected to return to Ohio State to improve as a linebacker. He was voted a captain and was awarded the Block O jersey, signifying he exemplifies what it means to be a Buckeye. In 2025, he amassed 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Strengths
Captain; Could be trusted to be the green dot as a rookie
Doesn’t often get bogged down by pre- and post-snap movement
Incredible athlete, will likely have a great RAS (will update when official)
Does not miss tackles, either in traffic or in the open field
Can slip through traffic to make the impact play in the backfield
Is a safety in a linebacker’s body; very good in zone coverage
Sideline-to-sideline range
Incredibly versatile, he can line up anywhere
First-team All-American in 2025
Weaknesses
Blitzing may not be his strong suit as a rookie
Could get caught stepping up in play action
Pass rush needs work
Will need to add a little mass to hold up against NFL offensive linemen
Projection: Early First Round
Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
Bottom Line on Sonny Styles
Styles will be one of the many former Buckeyes drafted on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the prototypical NFL linebacker with the versatility to do whatever the defense needs. Teams are going to fall in love with his sheer athleticism. He can come down to stonewall running backs on the ground, plus he can drop into coverage and go one-on-one with tight ends.
He’s as sure a tackler as you’d find, only missing one tackle in 2025. He has the football IQ and play recognition to be a day-one starter in the NFL.
Whichever team takes Styles in the first round should be very intrigued and excited for what they will be getting. He looks like a multi-year star and has future Pro Bowler written all over him.