The Dallas Cowboys are widely expected to be in the linebacker market this offseason with Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, and Logan Wilson all set to leave in 2026. The top off-ball linebacker prospect in this year’s class is Sonny Styles, a former safety, who has successfully made the transition to linebacker at Ohio State.
Teams searching for help in the middle of their defense should love Styles due to his college production, size, and athleticism. But just how high can an off-ball linebacker be selected in the NFL? Well, that might depend on just how much teams value Styles’ elite skill set.
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes:
Height: 6036
Weight: 243
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.38-4.46
Recruiting: No. 27 overall prospect in 2022 recruiting class. No. 2 ranked safety.
College Production: 224 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 9 pass deflections, 1 INT in 53 games.
Positives:
- Rare combination of size and athleticism for a linebacker. Very fluid mover who can teleport from sideline to sideline.
- One of the best tacklers in the class. Only two missed tackles during the entire 2025 season per Pro Football Focus.
- Long arms allow him to reach ballcarriers that most defenders wouldn’t be able to get to.
- Shows a willingness to take on blocks, even though he is still learning how to stack and shed.
- Elite range in coverage. Former safety background means that he is comfortable occupying zones and covering tight ends.
- Plenty of experience playing in the box, on the line of scrimmage, and in the slot.
Styles is everything you would want from a modern-day NFL linebacker. He projects as an elite cover linebacker whose athleticism sets him apart from his peers. There just aren’t many linebackers with his size, length, and athleticism in the NFL, and that’s why he is such a unique prospect. And his safety background gives him a leg-up in coverage compared to the rest of the class, and teams searching for a prototypical Tampa-2 linebacker will love Styles.
Negatives:
- Still learning how to become a linebacker after making the transition from safety. Does take a few false steps in coverage, but athleticism allows him to overcome mistakes.
- Could stand to add 5-10 pounds of muscle to his frame.
- Doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher other than using his athleticism to chase down quarterbacks.
- Not the most physical tackler. More of a drag-down tackler.
Styles doesn’t have a lot of glaring flaws to his game and most of them are fixable. If we can add some more weight to his frame, it should help him take on more blocks at the NFL level. He’s got experience, but coverage responsibilities are always tougher at the next level.
Sonny Styles NFL Player Comparison: Devin Lloyd
Styles has more long speed than Lloyd, but it’s a strong style comp as both have the length and athleticism to run sideline to sideline. Both players can struggle to get off blocks, at times, but they are sure-fire tacklers who are very comfortable in the passing game.
It’s taken Lloyd a few seasons to develop in the NFL, but he’s one of the most well-rounded linebackers in the league and a big reason why Jacksonville’s defense has improved so much in 2025.
Sonny Styles NFL Draft Grade: Top-20 Selection
Linebackers with Styles’ size and speed don’t last very long in the draft, especially when they tackle as well as he does. Off-ball linebackers rarely are picked inside the top-10 picks, but he has an outside shot to do so, given his rare physical gifts. Expect Styles to be picked early and to be a Day 1 starter at linebacker.