Sonny Styles Lacks Motivation

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is a tricky evaluation.

Why’s that?

Styles has “first-round traits,” but he lacks motor, and it’s spray-painted all over his 2025 game film. I wasn’t crazy about Styles to begin with on his 2024 film. All his 2025 film did was confirm what I already knew.

Why then did I spend the time on evaluating Styles in 2025 (time I didn’t have during crunch time)?

To make sure…

You see, many platforms view Styles as a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everywhere you look, they’ve signed off on Styles; NFL.com, CBS, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Draftwire, The Athletic, Yahoo, Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, USA Today, SI, Pro Football Network, The McShay Report, Pro Football Focus, Newsweek, NBC Sports, Sporting News, LA Times, NJ.com, NY Post, and Draft Kings have all mocked him into the first round (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

And maybe he’ll go first round because of the overpowering hype that surrounds his name.

But he shouldn’t.

Not based on what he put on film⎯

Not based on how his college film translates to the NFL⎯

After all⎯

It’s not just about “traits.”

It’s about the “traits” that consistently show up on the film.

Awful looking against the run and blitzing

For the most part⎯

The only time Styles could make a run stop was when he was unblocked, and the only time he could get to the quarterback was when he faced little to no resistance (2025: 1 sack).

That pretty much also summarizes his “46 solo tackles.”

Not only did Styles prove to have difficulty shedding blocks in the run game, but he didn’t look like he was really into it.

And when it comes to Styles as a “pass rusher…”

Fahgettaboudit.

• Zero pass rush moves shown

What you see is what you get with Styles. He has zero pass-rush creativity. There’s nothing in his pass-rushing “toolbox.”

Hence, his 2025 “sack” production.

What’s he best at?

Being an off-the-ball linebacker.

Get this guy as far away from the line of scrimmage as possible.

So, he’s better at covering the pass?

Yeah, “better.”

Why the quotes?

Because he’s still mostly only a damage-control after-the-fact defender who makes tackles after the catch has been made.

There’s some value to that.

Some.

NFL projection

Nothing irks me more as an evaluator than guys who have what it takes but take it for granted. Styles went through the motions on his 2025 game film.

Sure, he started playing “a little harder” by the time the Rutgers game rolled around on the schedule, but that too was “short-lived.”

I need more as an evaluator than “he’s from Ohio State.”

#0 Sonny Styles 6-foot-5, 244 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First Round prospect as of April 6, 2026

Ohio State Linebacker Sonny Styles Provides Some Support (2024: 16 games evaluated)

2025 game film evaluated: Texas, Grambling, Ohio, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, Michigan, Indiana, and Miami (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Moved from safety to linebacker in 2024

Dad Lorenzo Styles played linebacker in the NFL

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Underachiever. Shows decent understanding of the scheme. Leaner athletic frame. Long arms. Lacks fight. Not a playmaker. Lines up at middle linebacker, outside linebacker, and further outside. Gets people lined up in the right positions pre-snap. Tends to end up in position at the end of the play. Questionable instincts. Sometimes goes the wrong direction, opposite of the play flow. Flashes good straight-line speed and burst once in a blue moon. Capable of getting sideline-to-sideline. Flashes fast close. Sometimes looks twitchy. Can run with tight-ends and running backs in man coverage. Mostly dropped into shallow to intermediate zones and hung out. Tends to be a reactive run defender. Doesn’t use hands well. Gets tied up and easily gets lost in the trash. Often ends up by the pile or piles on. Average playing strength. Seen jogging backside on several active runs. Takes some questionable angles. Looks like an athlete trying to learn how to play linebacker. Positionless.

Final words

I’m not vibing with what he put on tape.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him, visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.