Carolina Panthers 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Sonny Styles

Even though the 2025 NFL season just started, it’s never too early to look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles

Styles’ father, Lorenzo, played six seasons in the NFL, including a Super Bowl win with the Rams, so Sonny definitely has football in his blood. He reclassified to graduate high school early, joining the Buckeyes at just 17 years old. Despite that early start, Styles has not fallen behind academically or on the football field. He was originally a safety, starting for Ohio State as a true sophomore in 2023 before switching to linebacker for the 2024 season. The position switch allowed Styles to truly blossom as a playmaker in 2024, and that production has continued this season.

The first thing that jumps off the tape for Styles is his athleticism. Despite his large frame (6’4”, 245 lbs), he has put up a 4.48 forty yard dash, an 11 foot broad jump, and a 40 inch vertical. He is an absolute monster against the run, using his size and speed to beat blockers and punish ball carriers. That size and athleticism also shows up in pass coverage, where he is able to use his long arms and range to lock down entire areas of the field. While athleticism is the first thing scouts notice, it’s Styles’ football intelligence that sets him apart. His play recognition allows him to beat blockers and receivers to their landmarks on a consistent basis. This combination of brains and brawn also lets him be extremely versatile, lining up everywhere from slot corner to safety to linebacker and even rushing the passer effectively. Styles also plays the . . . Style(s) of football that coaches love: fast and violent.

No prospect is perfect, but Styles has limited weaknesses to his game. One is man coverage against quick twitch receivers. He has a little trouble keeping up in those circumstances, but how many linebackers don’t? The other main drawback is a lack of experience at the linebacker position, though he has shown himself to be a quick study. Still, some of the more nuanced aspects of playing off ball linebacker are areas Styles is still working on.

Styles will likely be a first round pick in April due to his combination of athletic and mental traits and his production in college. He will see the field early on defense and even has special teams experience. The ceiling for Styles is about as high as you can get at the linebacker position, but the floor has some scouts wary depending on the situation he goes to. I lean more towards Styles thriving in almost any scheme and situation if given enough time to settle in to the NFL version of being a linebacker.

The Carolina Panthers have a history of taking former safeties and putting them at off-ball linebacker (Thomas Davis), and there would not be many better situations for a player like Styles. It seems like the Panthers have their head coach for the foreseeable future, and he’d be able to pick the brain of previous Panthers great linebackers who are still employed by the team in Dan Morgan, Davis, and Luke Kuechly. Trevin Wallace has spoken about learning from those guys, so Styles would also be able to benefit from their presence.

What do you think, Panthers fans? If Sonny Styles is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!