The Ohio State football program is owning the 2026 NFL Draft. That is what was expected coming in, as there was a lot of thought that the Buckeyes could have four players taken in the top 10. Surprisingly, Carnell Tate was the first one off the board, being taken by the Titans.
Arvell Reese was taken just one pick later by the New York Giants. His linebacker teammate, Sonny Styles, had one of the greatest NFL Combine moments in the history of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He showed that he was an athletic freak, and that allowed him to be a top 10 pick.
Styles was the seventh overall pick, going to the Washington Commanders. He has a shot to be the best interior linebacker in the NFL in a few years with the skills that he showed off in each of the last two years at linebacker, which are the only two years that he has played the position.
Washington Commanders take Sonny Styles seventh overall
The Commanders were playing in the NFC Championship just two years ago. The defense really took a step back in 2025. It's clear that they wanted to improve that side of the ball, and Styles will be able to do that from the linebacker position. He has a real shot to turn that unit around right away.
Styles became the third Buckeye taken in four picks, meaning that three Buckeyes were taken in the top seven of the 2026 NFL Draft. Ryan Day will certainly be using that when it comes to recruiting this summer. All of these high school prospects see how highly these Ohio State players are being taken.
Styles isn't just an athletic freak. He is a student of the game, so he will keep getting better at the linebacker spot as he gets more experience.
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