Which NFC East team drafted the most transformative Ohio State defender?

Styles is expected to serve as a versatile weapon in Daronte Jones’ aggressive scheme, which prioritizes versatility and pre-snap confusion, and giving Washington “endless possibilities” for defensive disguises. Leveraging his background as a safety and his 6-foot-5, 244-pound frame, the Commanders plan to use him as a “mugged up” linebacker who can threaten the A-gap to force protection shifts before either blitzing or dropping into coverage. His elite tackling efficiency—having missed only two tackles in his final college season—makes him a reliable anchor in the middle of the field, while his rare speed allows him to match up one-on-one against athletic tight ends and slot receivers.

The first of the three players drafted was Arvell Reese, who was perceived by analysts ahead of the draft as a hybrid linebacker and edge rusher. His positional value as a full-time, rotational, or part-time edge rusher may be the reason why he was the first of the three athletic defenders off the draft board, although the fact that he was available at 5th overall was perceived by most NFL analysts as rather shocking, as he was expected to be drafted earlier.

Despite the player’s perceived value as an edge rusher, head coach John Harbaugh said that the Giants intend to start him as an off-ball “WILL” (weak side) linebacker alongside veteran Tremaine Edmunds. This role should leverage his 4.46 speed to chase ball carriers sideline-to-sideline while allowing him to “mug up” in various gaps (A through D) to disguise pressure. In passing situations, the Giants may utilize his elite 6-foot-4, 243-pound frame as a hybrid weapon — a stand-up edge rusher to complement Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — or that may be in the team’s future plans. By using Reese to camouflage their defensive intent, New York could potentially expect to create a “perfect storm of chaos” for opposing quarterbacks.