Ht/Wt:6' 5"/244 lbs
Position: LB
School: South Carolina
Class: Senior

Sonny Styles's Player Profile

Styles entered the 2026 draft conversation as one of the most intriguing defensive prospects because he combines an NFL-ready frame with unusual movement skills for the position. He is listed at 6-4, 6-5 and roughly 244 pounds, and that size lets him hold up at the point of attack while still flashing sideline-to-sideline range. He is at his best when he can read quickly, flow to the football, and use his length and speed to erase plays before they develop. The main developmental question is how polished he becomes in the finer points of linebacker play, since he is still relatively new to the position compared with older, more traditional off-ball linebackers.

Strengths: His biggest strengths are his elite athletic profile for the position and his ability to impact the game in multiple ways, especially in pursuit and coverage.

Weaknesses: His biggest weaknesses are that he can lose leverage because of his height and that he is still refining his linebacker instincts and discipline, particularly against misdirection and play-action.

Mel Kiper - ESPN - January 21st: "Watch for him to dominate at the combine and in predraft testing. Styles is also a dependable tackler and closes in a flash. He really took the next step this season, even as he adapted to a new system under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia."

Walt - Walter Football- January 20th: "Sonny Styles is a versatile linebacker who plays well in coverage."

Gordon McGinness - PFF - January 19th: "He earned PFF coverage and run-defense grades above 85.0 in his final college season, and he missed just 2.2% of his tackle attempts. Styles looks like the type of linebacker who could start for 10-plus years in the NFL."

Josh Edwards - CBS Sports - January 19th: "Sonny Styles is a player whose stock continues to rise, and it may ultimately settle in the top 10 overall."

NFL Draft Buzz- January: "The modern NFL demands defenders who can handle multiple responsibilities, and Styles certainly fits that mold with his rare size-speed combination and positional flexibility. His ability to impact the run game translates immediately to the professional level, where his natural leverage and pursuit speed should allow him to contribute from day one."


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