Scouting Report: Why Sonny Styles is the 2026 NFL Draft's best prospect
Sitting at the top of my big board is none other than Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, and this is why.
Ohio State linebacker and 2026 NFL Draft hopeful Sonny Styles has been making waves this week after his high school basketball highlights found their way back onto X.
It served as a good reminder for me to publish his scouting report and reiterate something I’ve said now for the last three months: there is no better player in this year’s draft class. My big board reflects that as well.
Styles enters the class after four seasons with the Buckeyes, and with no redshirt utilized after seeing the field in seven games as a true freshman in 2022. His 2023 season was his first season as a full-time starter, but as a safety. Styles made the transition to linebacker in 2024, and it has been full speed ahead since then.
Putting all the pieces together at the second level in 2025, Styles put an exceptional season in Columbus on tape. He racked up 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble on the year. Receiving All-Big 10 honors for his efforts, Styles now enters the pre-draft cycle as a consensus first round pick.
That rhetoric is not strong enough. Yes, Styles is a first round pick. And while he won’t go with the first pick in the draft, and perhaps not in the top-five given the position that he plays, I have not found a better player in the class.
So, why do I feel so confident placing Styles at the top of my big board? Here is a scouting report on the ultra-talented and tantalizing linebacker:
Measurables, Testing Numbers, and Injury History of Sonny Styles
Measurables
Height: 6043 (verified last Spring)
Weight: 237 pounds (verified last Spring)
Arm Length: 3328 (verified last Spring)
Hand Size: 1000 (verified last Spring)
This section will be updated once we have verified numbers on Ohio State LB Sonny Styles from the NFL Scouting Combine.
Testing Numbers
This section will be updated once we have verified numbers on Ohio State LB Sonny Styles.
Injury History
Sonny Styles did not miss any time in his college career due to injuries. There are no known ailments in his 2026 NFL Draft profile at this time.
