Story by
Best 2026 NFL Draft landing spots for Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
- Story by
- Best 2026 NFL Draft landing spots for Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
You're going to hear a lot of names called during the 2026 NFL Draft followed by the two words: Ohio State .
The Buckeyes came up short in defending their national championship in 2025 but had a roster stocked full of NFL talent, especially on defense. Safety Caleb Downs and linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese are two of the top talents regardless of position in 2026. Another one of their teammates on the Buckeyes' defense will be an early pick in the first round: linebacker Sonny Styles .
Advertisement
Styles entered the 2025 college football season widely considered the best linebacker prospect in the group. Reese's outstanding year meant he overtook Styles but the previous No. 1 talent showed out at the NFL combine.
Styles is an example of the "planet theory" when talking about NFL draft prospects . There just simply aren't many people on Earth who can move like him at his size.
Styles measured in at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds in Indianapolis and then went on to have an outlier performance in athletic testing. His 43 ½ inch vertical jump is the highest by any player 6-foot-4 or taller since 2003. He ran 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash and hit 11 feet, 2 inches in the broad jump.
If he had a standout testing day alone, he'd likely be a first-round prospect. But his body of work at Ohio State over the last three years - including one as a safety - makes him a lock for the top 10.
Advertisement
NFL MOCK DRAFT: Where Ohio State stars Reese, Styles, more could go
But where will he go? Here are five NFL fits for Sonny Styles in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Sonny Styles' best NFL fits
Tennessee Titans
Robert Saleh's defenses in San Francisco featured top linebacker talent in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw . In New York, C.J. Mosley , Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood patrolled the second level. He's made the most of top linebacker talent and could look to bring that to Tennessee.
The Titans spent a lot of money in free agency to build up the defensive front. John Franklin-Myers , Solomon Thomas and Jermaine Johnson II all reunited with Saleh for 2026. Jeffery Simmons is one of the best at his position up front and could eat up blocks for Styles to make plays against the run.
Advertisement
Tennessee may opt instead to go offense with their first selection of the NFL draft for good reason. The team could surround 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward with more talent on offense. But if they don't, Styles would be a great addition to the defense.
Washington Commanders
Washington had one of the NFL's oldest defenses in 2025 and spent this offseason to get younger and bring in new talent. Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson are both edge rushers under 30 and make it so the Commanders don't have to draft for need at No. 7 overall. They also brought in linebacker Leo Chenal from Kansas City which makes the need for Styles a bit less. But drafting this high in the first round is more about getting the best talent available on the board.
Styles could work alongside Chenal which would allow defensive coordinator Daronte Jones to deploy Frankie Luvu in creative ways. Luvu lined up in the box and on the defensive line for 574 and 473 snaps, respectively, in 2025 per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Luvu and Styles could both be movable pieces against two strong running games in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys .
Advertisement
More: NFL stars break down Ohio State's top 2026 draft prospects
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are likely dreaming of Styles being available at No. 12 overall. There's a good chance he won't be, but if so, that'd be a best-case scenario for Dallas.
Free agent additions Jalen Thompson , P.J. Locke and Cobie Durant should raise the floor of the Cowboys' pass defense from the league-worst levels endured in 2025. DeMarvion Overshown is a question mark coming back from injury and Shemar James is a fifth-round pick in year two. Neither are sure things for first-year coordinator Christian Parker.
Advertisement
Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are one of the better interior defensive line tandems in the league. Styles would be an ideal fit behind them as a dynamic talent who closes on ball-carriers in run defense and has the speed to hold up in coverage. This would be a dream scenario for the Cowboys' defense in a crucial year to bounce back.
New York Giants
Speaking of the NFC East, the New York Giants could also look to add to the second level of their defense with Styles at No. 5 overall. Giants fans may be hoping for a different Ohio State player there in Carnell Tate but Styles is more than deserving of this high of a pick as well.
New York has a need at linebacker with a stock of solid defensive linemen in Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns as well as a rising talent in Abdul Carter . The Giants signed former Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency to provide athleticism at the position but he's not good enough to keep the team from taking Styles.
Advertisement
Behind that stout defensive line, Styles would help the Giants' defense against the Eagles' and Cowboys' running games. Tate could be the play to help the offense grow with Jaxson Dart but Styles could make the Giants' defense a force in the NFC.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints addressed their offense in free agency by signing guard David Edwards , running back Travis Etienne and tight end Noah Fant . Wide receiver is a big need for the team but it is a deep class at the position and the defense could use more reinforcements.
New Orleans signed Kaden Elliss to a three-year deal. If they use him in a similar role to what the Atlanta Falcons did in 2024 and 2025, he'll be rushing the passer a decent amount of the time. Ellis notched 73 hurries and nine sacks over his last two seasons. Fellow linebacker Pete Werner is entering the final year of his contract and had a down season in 2025 in his first year under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Advertisement
The Saints are likely looking for more help off the edge with promising young pieces in the secondary. But if Styles is there at No. 8 overall and the other top edge rushers aren't, it'd be an easy fit to see the Buckeyes star come in and help ease the loss of franchise icon Demario Davis .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sonny Styles' best fits: Titans, Commanders among NFL draft landing spots
