Sonny Styles — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Playmakers are needed on all three levels of the defense. I know the Bengals spent second- and fourth-round picks on linebackers in last year's draft, but Styles is a top-five talent they cannot pass up.

This pick came down to Styles and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. What the Bengals do in free agency might provide the tiebreaker. Styles would be a slam dunk to drop in the middle of the defense, despite rookie linebacker issues last season. If Cincinnati handles linebacker in free agency, Delane would be the ideal pick for a team not in need of an immediate starter but grabbing the top player at a premium position. He'd provide elite depth behind DJ Turner and Dax Hill, both in the last year of their contracts and seeking extensions. Either way, the defense needs more great players and, even at a non-premium position, Styles qualifies.

That's four Ohio State players in the top 12, and the third member of the Buckeyes defense. Sonny Styles didn't receive the same kind of attention as Caleb Downs or Arvell Reese, but he's another versatile chess piece who began his college career at safety before moving to linebacker.

I have Styles rated much higher than 15th in my prospect rankings, but not all teams value off-ball linebackers the same way. Styles can plug the hole if Lavonte David does not return.

Dallas' offseason should be filled with defensive reinforcements, as the roster was imbalanced in 2025. Styles, who started as a safety at Ohio State, fits the mold of a modern NFL linebacker with his sideline-to-sideline range and ability to drop into coverage. He showed plenty of blitzing prowess in 2024 with six sacks, blending timing and instincts with his length and easy acceleration.

There are few 2026 prospects with as much versatility as Styles, who played under longtime NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia this past season. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker would love to have Styles as a building block in his scheme. After all, Dallas allowed 6.1 yards per play last season, second worst in the NFL behind the Bengals.

Dallas has an opportunity to really upgrade its defense here for new coordinator Christian Parker, and can shore up what has the potential to be a top front seven with the addition of Styles. He's a fast, physical linebacker who has all the talent in the world to be an ace starter in short order in the NFL.

Lavonte David is 36 and a free agent. So, the Buccaneers are probably looking at replacing this offseason or sometime soon. Styles is the best inside linebacker in the draft, showing he can do it all at Ohio State this past season. He actually started his college career at safety, but they moved him to linebacker because of his massive 6-foot-5 frame. He's also got three years of starting experience and he's still just 21 years old.