COLUMBUS, OH — Sonny Styles is officially the most popular man in the pre-draft circuit. The former Ohio State linebacker confirmed he is heading to visits with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and Cincinnati Bengals after already wrapping up a session with the New York Jets. Styles shared the news during a Friday appearance on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, solidifying his status as a lock for the early first round.
Styles didn’t just walk into the 2026 draft cycle; he kicked the door down. He stands a massive 6-foot-5 and weighs 244 lbs, yet he moved like a wide receiver at the NFL Combine. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash sent scouts into a frenzy. It wasn’t a fluke. He backed those wheels up with a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. This isn’t just a linebacker; he is a lab-built defensive weapon. Teams are no longer asking if he can play; they are figuring out how many positions he can fix at once.
The interest from Washington and Dallas makes perfect sense. Both teams hold high-leverage picks and desperate needs for second-level speed. While the Bengals visit is labeled a “local day” because of his Ohio roots, Cincinnati owners aren’t letting a talent like this slip past them without a face-to-face. Styles finished his Buckeyes career with 244 combined tackles and nine sacks, proving his production matches the private-jet athleticism.
“I have met with the Jets, and then I’ll be meeting with the Cowboys and Commanders. I’ll be going to see the Bengals, too. That’ll be awesome… I’m going down to Cincinnati for local day with the coaches.”
— Sonny Styles, Former Ohio State Linebacker
The Commanders currently sit at No. 7, a spot where Styles would be an immediate successor to aging veterans. Dan Quinn’s defense thrives on “positionless” stars, and Styles fits that mold better than anyone in this class. Dallas, picking at No. 12, might need to trade up if they want to secure him. His ability to transition into an edge rusher gives him a floor that most traditional linebackers lack. He’s a blue-chip prospect who won a 2024-25 National Championship and earned First-Team All-American honors last season. If a team in the Top 5 needs a spark, they won’t find a brighter one than the kid from Pickerington.
