Sonny Styles, New York Giants
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Sonny Styles #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during 2026 Ohio State Pro Day.
The New York Giants could go in just about any direction with the No. 5 overall pick. They have just about every avenue open to them thanks to a decent free agency class that addressed every major hole.
Among the team’s weakest positions is along the offensive line. As things stand, Daniel Faalele is penciled in as the starting right guard, but he was Pro Football Focus’s 55th-best interior offensive lineman among 81 qualified players.
The problem is, there isn’t necessarily a prospect that grades out high enough to be selected that high. That leaves the Giants with the ability to nab whichever top prospect falls their way, and according to the latest reports, that pick is getting fairly obvious.
Giants Seem to be Leaning Towards LB Sonny Styles
ESPN insider Jordan Raanan was asked what would happen if the New York Giants got on the clock at No. 5, and they had all the top wide receivers, offensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties to choose from.
Raanan aired on the side of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
“The Giants’ biggest need is right guard, where they’re without a starter unless they have full confidence in Daniel Faalele and/or Evan Neal, which seems nearly impossible right now. But would they really draft a right guard at No. 5, even if that player could later slide out to tackle?” Wrote Raanan.
“Instead, the Giants could go the best-player-available route … but who would be the best player at that spot, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles? If those are the choices, linebacker it is.”
Linebacker is a point of emphasis for new head coach John Harbaugh as he enters his first year as head coach of the Giants.
Despite moving on from Bobby Okereke, New York was aggressive in going after free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, inking him to a three-year, $36 million contract.
Even with that addition, Styles still makes sense given Harbaugh’s infatuation with the position.
“The inside linebacker isn’t always considered a value position, but you can’t stop the run without an inside linebacker making tackles in the middle, right? You can’t do it. So, that becomes pretty important,” Harbaugh told the media at the Scouting Combine.
If given multiple options, it seems obvious which direction the Giants would lean.
Jordan Reid Doubles Down on Sonny Styles
Even ESPN’s Jordan Reid believes the New York Giants wouldn’t be opposed to going after a lesser valued position like linebacker, given Harbaugh’s history with the Baltimore Ravens.
“Talking to league sources, the Giants wouldn’t be shy about drafting an off-ball linebacker at No. 5, making Styles a real possibility at that spot as Jordan alluded to above,” wrote Reid.
“New coach John Harbaugh has always considered the middle linebacker spot to be important, and Styles fits the mold of what Harbaugh has loved in players such as Roquan Smith.”
Ever since his early days as head coach of the Ravens, Harbaugh has always had elite play in the middle of his defense.
He inherited Ray Lewis, drafted C.J. Mosley and Patrick Queen in the first round, and gave up multiple draft picks to land Roquan Smith.
Having Edmunds quarterback Harbaugh’s defense, with Styles attached at the hip, would just be continuing the trend in New York.