Mike Mayock knows exactly what a generational defensive prospect looks like. The former Las Vegas Raiders general manager and veteran draft analyst has evaluated thousands of collegiate players. He rarely hands out the ultimate compliment to off-ball linebackers, but Sonny Styles has his attention.
The hype surrounding the Ohio State star grew during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. You rarely see a 6-foot-5, 244-pound human move with such fluidity, evidenced by his 4.46-second 40-yard dash and 43.5-inch vertical jump. Mayock’s evaluation takes the praise a step further than most mock drafts.
Mike Mayock Puts High Tag on Sonny Styles
Mayock sees a player whose ceiling transcends positional value. “He might be the best football player in this draft ultimately,” Mayock stated during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Styles arrived in Columbus carrying expectations. The five-star recruit out of Pickerington Central High School possessed a pedigree; his father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., led the Buckeyes in tackles for two seasons before playing six years in the NFL and winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.
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The younger Styles initially made his mark as a touted safety prospect. He spent his early collegiate years patrolling the boundary and operating as a dime defender in passing situations for the Buckeyes. His frame led the Ohio State coaching staff to shift him to off-ball linebacker prior to the 2024 campaign.
That transition came with expected growing pains. Evaluators noted his slight hesitation when diagnosing run plays in the box during that first year at the second level. “I have watched the kid for three years,” Mayock said recently when breaking down the prospect. “Three years ago, he was a boundary safety and a dime. Last year, he gets moved to off-the-ball linebacker, and you could tell on tape, it was a new move.”
Mayock Raves About the Evolution of Styles
Mayock noted that Styles wasn’t always aggressive downhill initially and occasionally struggled with his new pass coverage responsibilities. Even with the mechanical flaws, the raw athletic foundation was impossible to ignore. Mayock recognized the “violence and twitch” that define premium NFL defenders, calling him a freak athlete.
The leap from his first season at linebacker to his First-Team All-American campaign in 2025 changed the narrative. Styles logged 82 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and an interception during his senior year, anchoring a Buckeyes defense. The tape from his final collegiate season convinced evaluators that he had mastered the nuances of the position.
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“So, that brings us to this year, I put the tape on, and I was blown away,” Mayock explained. “He is so well-coached and has come so far.”
Linebackers with safety backgrounds offer value in modern NFL defensive schemes. Defensive coordinators crave second-level defenders who can navigate traffic in the run game while matching up with tight ends down the seam. Styles fits that demanding profile as he heads toward the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
What exactly has Mike Mayock actually done as a GM…nothing. I will put my money on Mike Farrell when it comes to evaluating these “generational talents”. Such Bs