Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles shows off some fancy footwork while training for the NFL Draft.
If you strip position titles and their inherent value away, there is a legitimate case to be made that Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is the best player available in this month's NFL Draft.
Style's resume on tape is ridiculous to put it bluntly. He did not have a missed tackle until the Big Ten Championship game in December; he was constantly in the correct spot, getting there with great instincts, speed, and physicality. The stout playmaker stands out on tape as a man amongst boys.
He then doubled down on this by going to the NFL combine and testing like a legitimate robot. He stands officially at 6-foot-5 while weighing in at 244 lbs. At that size, he ripped off a 4.55 40-yard dash, and he had a RAS (relative athletic score) of a perfect 10.0, not only in the linebacker position but also in four other positions as well.
He is the most athletic player in the draft, and he matches that up by being one of the smartest, too.
The only problem with Styles is that he plays the off-ball linebacker position.
It is not necessarily a problem that he plays this position, but in terms of the way the NFL values certain positions, off-ball linebacker is not high on that list.
If you were to strip positions away from players, Styles would be the No. 1 overall pick.
Since that is not the case, there is a legitimate chance that he falls outside of the top-10. However, after Friday, I think teams are going to be salivating at the opportunity to draft Styles.
His trainer released a workout video of him and his former Buckeyes teammate, Arvell Reese, getting some work in, and man, Styles is such a natural.
He is in constant and total control of his body at all times. He is so explosive, he is so controlled, intentional, and physical. If you think that he is just this way in drills, think again.
Watch the Ohio State tape for 30 seconds, and you will see that he matches what he can do in training sessions with what he does between the white lines.
Styles is a very special player, and no matter where teams value the position, teams must value great players, which Styles is.
Whoever selects him is getting a superstar talent and a guy who has the ability to be a game-changing defensive player for several years to come.
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