Sonny Styles turned a strong NFL Combine into a louder conversation about where he fits in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Ohio State linebacker ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump and reached 11 feet, 2 inches in the broad jump.
That kind of workout has firmly cemented sonny styles as a first-round player, and the view in this draft preview is that he is more than likely a top ten pick. For the Cowboys, that matters because linebacker is their biggest need right now, and they might have to trade up if they want a real shot at landing him.
The case for Styles is built on more than raw testing numbers. He can line up in different spots and make an impact on the game, with clear advantages when he closes quickly in open space, attacks gaps at the line of scrimmage and pops off blocks. His background as a safety also gives him a better ability to drop back and cover than most linebackers in the class.
That versatility is part of why he has drawn this kind of attention so quickly. Styles has only been playing linebacker full time for two years, and over that span his base has helped Ohio State’s defense stay among the best in college football the last two seasons.
The Cowboys’ interest comes with a built-in complication. The team is comfortable with a rookie wearing the green dot if he is the right player, but that does not change the math if Styles keeps climbing. A prospect this fast, this explosive and this early in his development is unlikely to last long enough for Dallas to wait around.
In a class where linebacker help is scarce and Styles keeps looking more polished, the question is no longer whether he belongs in the first round. It is whether the Cowboys can get to him before someone else does.
