Sonny Styles

The Player

Styles checks all the boxes when it comes to intangibles, production, upside, and tape, and he has the frame and traits to make more of an impact as an edge rusher in the NFL than he did in college. He was a team captain and national champion at Ohio State, where he started 41 games and received the team’s Block “O” award and no. 0 jersey. He finished his career with 245 tackles, including 21.5 TFL and nine sacks. He played safety for his first two seasons at Ohio State before switching to linebacker for his final two.

He has a rare blend of size, speed, and athletic ability. His 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump were all ranked first or tied for first among all linebackers at the combine. His 43.5-inch vertical jump was the highest by an off-ball linebacker at the combine since 2003. He’s tall enough to see into the backfield, which helps him locate and track the ball, and he has excellent range.

He knocks blockers back when he plays downhill and has long arms to keep them off his frame. He holds his ground when teams run at him. He can still improve getting off his blocks once engaged, but he’s shown he can shed them in time to make plays. He’s a powerful tackler who meets and wraps up ballcarriers in the hole, and he cut down his number of missed tackles in 2025. He closes well when he rushes from depth and off the edge. He overpowers running backs. He can win with his hands and flashes speed to power. He’s a strong hitter who separates receivers from the ball, and he has the traits to match up with backs and tight ends in man coverage.

The Draft

Styles is one of the top five prospects in this class, and he has a chance to be the first off-ball linebacker drafted in the top five since Tampa Bay drafted Devin White fifth in 2019. 

The Projection

Styles is a plug-and-play starter with All-Pro potential. He compares well to Tremaine Edmunds, who went to the Pro Bowl twice in his first three seasons in the league.