Sonny Styles Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

School: Ohio State

Class: Senior

Position: LB

HT: 6’5

WT: 244 lbs

Background: Sonny Styles was recruited as a safety in high school. He was rated as a 5-star safety and the best at the position in his class. He was the top safety and a top 3 player in the state of Ohio. Sonny’s father played for Ohio State in the 1990s and went on to win a Super Bowl with the Rams. Styles played for Pickerington Central High School. He reclassified after his junior year to become a member of the 2022 recruiting class. Styles committed to play for his parents’ alma mater in Ohio State over Ole Miss, Michigan, and others.

College: His first two seasons in Columbus were spent as a safety. He started 12 games at safety in 2023, earning All-Big 10 honorable mention. He was also an Academic All-Big 10 selection that year. In 2024, Styles made the transition to linebacker due to his playstyle and the incoming transfer of Caleb Downs taking over at safety. He finished with 100 tackles in 2024 and was named Second Team All-Big 10 and Academic All-Big 10 again. In 2025, Styles recorded 80 tackles and 5 TFLs on his way to a First Team All-Big 10 selection.

Strengths: Simply put, Sonny Styles is a freak. He had a historic combine, regardless of position. He is pound-for-pound the most athletic player in this year’s draft class and can truly do it all. His background as a safety is apparent in coverage where he understands different route concepts and knows exactly when to hand off his assignment to the defensive backs in order to maintain patrol over the middle of the field. His athleticism allows him to gain serious depth in his zone coverage to take up a huge chunk of the field. In man coverage, he is able to go stride for stride with both running backs and tight ends. Due to this athleticsm, Styles can line up close to the line of scrimmage and is extremely effective as a disguised blitzer. Styles does well to avoid blockers in open space and can dip his shoulder to get through them and to the ball carrier. Styles is an officer as a run defender. He reads the ball carrier’s eyes and attacks the proper gaps. Some of his run fits are truly eye-popping. Styles is a sure tackler; once he gets his hands on the ball carrier, he is finishing the play to the ground.

Weaknesses: Styles does not get in and out of breaks as efficiently as his athletic testing would suggest. When the ball carrier changes direction behind the line of scrimmage, Styles often loses a few steps of ground on him. Styles doesn’t have the pop or strength to rush through blockers and instead relies on his ability to work around them.

Conclusion: Sonny Styles is one of the most physically impressive players in the entire draft class. His athleticism is apparent right when you turn on the tape. He does not win with strength or physicality, but he does not need to. He will come into an NFL organization and instantly command the respect of a defense as a guy who can play every snap.

Best Team Fits: WSH, LAR, CHI

Player Comparison: Zack Baun

Player Grade: Round 1 (94.4)