Sonny Styles NFL Draft scouting report: Why Ohio State star is drawing Fred Warner comparisons

Styles played well both in coverage and against the run at Ohio State, and he reduced one potential concern by cutting down on missed tackles in his final season with the Buckeyes. Styles has even shown an ability to rush the passer, though they won't be his primary role in the NFL.

Styles doesn't offer too many true weaknesses, if any. He isn't a ballhawk with only one interception at Ohio State and has to make sure he doesn't rely too heavily on his athleticism at the next level, where just about everyone is athletic. The biggest knock on Styles might just be that off-ball linebackers aren't as valued as most other positions, but that likely won't stop a team from picking him early on Thursday.

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Sonny Styles stats

Styles recorded 235 tackles and 21.5 tackles for loss over his three seasons as a full-time player at Ohio State, starting out as a safety before fully converting to linebacker ahead of the 2024 season.

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Sonny Styles NFL comparison

Fred Warner

Styles profiles as a do-it-all linebacker, and NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said in January that he reminds him of 49ers star Fred Warner. With so few elite off-ball linebackers in the modern NFL, that's the comparison that makes the most sense.

Warner is the quarterback of the 49ers' defense and isn't much of a pass-rusher, but he excels in coverage and against the run. Warner is slightly smaller than Styles at 6-3 with a more slight frame, and the fact that Styles still has similar athleticism with a larger frame speaks to how unique of a player he is.

Like Warner, Styles won't need to be much of a pass-rusher at the NFL level. Not only does he have a similar skillset to Warner, but he seems to have the intangibles and leadership skills that make Warner a special player. Putting it all together at the highest level is another task, but teams will gladly take that risk.

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Sonny Styles NFL mock draft

Mock draft projection: No. 3 overall

SN's Vinnie Iyer projects Styles as the No. 5 overall pick to the New York Giants in his final three-round mock draft.

Off-ball linebackers aren't valued as highly as most other positions, so No. 5 would be a significant statement by Styles and the Giants. John Harbaugh is used to having intimidating linebackers on his defenses, from Ray Lewis to Roquan Smith, and he could see the selection of Styles as his first pick in New York as a way to put that familiar imprint on the roster.

The Giants released LB Bobby Okereke this spring, opening up a role, but they filled it by signing veteran Tremaine Edmunds.