Sonny Styles Scouting Report

Sonny Styles is a rare three-level defender who can make tackles sideline to sideline, rush the quarterback, and make plays in coverage.

Draft Grade: Round 1 - Pro Bowl Caliber

Strengths:

Versatility: Styles is a former safety at Ohio State who successfully transitioned to linebacker while also showing value as a pass rusher. He profiles as a true three-level defender with the ability to align in multiple spots across the defense. Styles can contribute in coverage, function as an off-ball linebacker against the run, and rush the quarterback, giving defensive coordinators a movable chess piece capable of creating matchup advantages and disguising pressure packages.

Instincts Against the Run: Styles is a quick and decisive processor at the stack linebacker position. He reads his keys efficiently, trusts his eyes, and plays downhill with urgency, allowing him to make tackles at or near the line of scrimmage. He rarely wastes steps in his read-and-react phase and shows a natural feel for run defense. His instincts and discipline should translate well to working through blocking schemes and consistently functioning as a reliable box defender at the next level.

Athleticism: Styles’ background as a safety clearly shows up in his athletic profile at linebacker. He is a high-end athlete for the position, with the range, fluidity, and movement skills to be deployed creatively in coverage. Styles has the ability to match up with tight ends and bigger slot receivers and adds value in zone coverage, where his awareness and range allow him to take away throwing lanes.

Pass-Rush Upside: In his first season playing linebacker in 2024, Styles recorded six sacks, highlighting his upside as a pass rusher. He has the length, size, and quickness to impact the quarterback when used as a blitzer or edge rusher. With additional refinement and continued usage, Styles projects as a player who can fill a designated pressure role—either coming off the edge or attacking interior gaps—to add another dimension to an NFL defense.

Concerns:

Lean Frame: Styles is a tall, lean linebacker whose build can create challenges when taking on offensive linemen at the point of attack. He can struggle to consistently stack, disengage, and shed blocks when linemen reach the second level and get clean contact on him. To maximize his effectiveness as a box defender, Styles will need to continue developing his upper-body strength and refine his hand usage and leverage so he can engage blockers more efficiently and free himself quickly to make plays on the ball.

Eye Discipline: Styles’ aggressive, downhill play style occasionally leads to lapses in assignment discipline. Play-action concepts can cause him to overcommit to the run, opening voids behind him for quarterbacks to exploit in the intermediate passing game. Additionally, complex blocking schemes (such as pulls and misdirection) can bait him into reading false keys. Given his relatively limited time playing linebacker, these issues appear coachable, and with additional reps and experience, Styles should improve his eye discipline, processing, and overall consistency in diagnosing offensive intent.