Under the guidance of Ryan Day and a blueblood program, shaping his career. Sonny Styles at Ohio State is already being touted to be an NFL-caliber quarterback. His frame at 6’4″ and 243 lbs is apt for a pro LB or safety, and his performances this season have given him everything to bolster his draft stock. The result? A prominent AFC West team is touting to pick him up to address their LB woes.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid recently came out with a 2026 NFL mock draft on first-round picks and touted players like Fernando Mendoza and Rueben Bain Jr to be top 2 picks. In linebackers, Reid predicted Arvell Reese to be drafted first at the sixth spot to the New Orleans Saints. Whereas, CJ Allen of Georgia got the 19th spot with the Buffalo Bills. Finally, the ESPN analyst picked Sonny Styles to be his third-pick linebacker in the 2026 NFL draft as the 23rd overall pick.

“Styles would provide Denver with a rangy, second-level defender who shows plenty of instincts in coverage. He is capable of rushing the passer on obvious passing downs, and his wrap-up-and-finish tackling ability would make him a reliable option immediately,” wrote Jordan Reid. According to the ESPN analyst, the $7.2 billion valued Broncos need Styles to correct their D-line. That makes the possibility highly likely.

The Broncos have been weak so far in terms of their outside linebackers’ defense. Moreover, the Denver franchise only needs depth in their LB room since their defense has been performing quite well. For context, the team ranks third in yards allowed in the NFL, giving up 273.1 yards per game. Not just that.

The injury of the Broncos’ free agent, Dre Greenlaw, also opens a possibility where the team could take Styles. The other outside LBs, too, like Nik Bonitto and Dondrea Tillman, aren’t performing up to the mark.

For instance, Tillman has featured in 7 games so far and has accumulated just 13 tackles. Not to mention his performances this month are even weaker, as he has notched just 4 tackles this month. Similarly, Bonitto’s performances haven’t given much hope. The player has totaled just 25 tackles so far after featuring in 7 games and has shown weaker performances, especially in the fourth quarter. Sonny Styles can then immediately thrust into the team and start performing.

A top-2 pick within reach for Sonny Styles in the 2026 NFL draft

The 20-year-old has produced a whopping 40 tackles so far this season and has had an electric performance against Illinois. The LB showed up strong and notched 10 tackles, making life difficult for Luke Altmyer. Not to mention his solid performance in the opening game against Texas, where he totaled 5 tackles and stood like a wall. Owing to that, the Pickerington, Ohio native surely now has a strong case for his bright NFL future.

“Styles checks a lot of boxes that will be scouting catnip for NFL teams. A former five-star recruit, he is a 20-year-old senior with rare physical traits and the son of a former Super Bowl champion linebacker. On top of his freaky tools, he was voted an ‘Iron Buckeye’ this spring for his training and discipline, and one member of Ohio State’s staff told me Styles is one of the best leaders in the program,” wrote Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Unlike Jordan Reid’s 23rd position for Styles. Brugler was more generous for the LB.

The draft expert picked Styles to be the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, relying on Styles’ leadership. Undoubtedly, Sonny Styles has every skill set to deserve the spot. The guy perfectly holds up blocks against run defense and uses body strength effectively. His 0% missed tackles in 2024, when he notched 100 tackles, is a testament to that. Talk about Styles’ pass rush? The LB bends like butter for his size and attacks from the interior.

His 6 sacks count from last year show just that. That said, he still would need to work on his man coverage against quick slots. He would also need to work on his hip technique to change directions. But that’s not a deal breaker at all, and if he continues to perform the same way. At least a top-5 pick won’t be too much to ask for, Styles then.