The New Orleans Saints have had the luxury of elite linebacker play over the past few years. Demario Davis has been a franchise cornerstone and Pete Werner has been a nice complement next to him. However, Davis is 37 years old and Werner’s time in New Orleans appears to be ending soon. Because of this, it would make sense to invest heavy draft capital towards Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
The 2026 NFL Draft has several talented linebackers towards the top of the draft board. However, none would fit the Saints better than Styles. He would come with a hefty price tag, a first round pick, but is well worth the cost.
Here’s an in-depth scouting report over Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
Sonny Styles 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 243 pounds
Recruiting: 5 star prospect in the class of 2022
2025 Stats: 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections, 1 interception
Positives:
- Outstanding athlete. #10 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak list
- Great frame for a linebacker
- Sure tackler
- Highly instinctual in pass coverage
- Sheds blockers in run games
- Excellent closing speed
- Proficient in coverage
- Insanely powerful and explosive
- Violent at the point of attack
- Heat seeking missile. Navigates through traffic to stop the ball carrier
- Efficient pass rusher
Styles is one of the most athletic players in college football. He’s a former safety converted to linebacker, which is evident in his film. He’s a smooth mover who flies around the field, navigating through blockers to make a play. The play’s over once Styles reaches the ball carrier, he only has one missed tackle in 2025, which came in Ohio State’s final game. He is a violent tackler and brings immense power at the point of contact.
Styles is outstanding against the run, but is equally impressive against the pass. He’s instinctual in coverage and reads the quarterback's eyes to make a play. His athleticism allows him to cover both running backs and tight ends in man coverage. Additionally, he can rush the passer well. He only had one sack this season but had six in 2024 (Arvell Reese took those snaps).
Negatives:
- Can frequently bite on play action passes, leaving him prone to late reactions
It’s challenging to find any issues with Styles, however, he has a tendency to bite on run fakes. This causes him to be out of position and forced to be in recovery mode. His elite closing speed helps mitigate this problem, but it’s still something that could be exploited at the next level.
Sonny Styles NFL Draft Grade: Early-Mid 1st round
Styles will undoubtedly be a high first round pick in April. There’s an extremely small chance he falls past pick 20, and could easily go in the top 10.
Sonny Styles would be a perfect fit for the Saints defense and be a quality successor to Demario Davis. He’s an incredible athlete who can impact the game on every down. It would require a heavy investment, but it would be well worth the price.