Why the NY Giants Must Draft 'Unicorn' Sonny Styles at No. 5

The New York Giants’ preferred pick at No. 5 in the 2026 NFL Draft has been a moving target this offseason.

However, the one that’s been most attached to the organization throughout the process has been Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, whose freakish athletic profile has had some analysts refer to him as a "unicorn" and which has caught the attention of the whole league since he flashed at the combine back in February.

Key Takeaways: Sonny Styles is the Safe Choice at No. 5

Ideal Fit: Styles is viewed as the ideal centerpiece for new DC Dennard Wilson’s defense thanks to his versatility.
Elite Production and Reliability: Despite being relatively new to the linebacker position, Styles delivered a strong performance.
Immediate Solution to Defensive Weaknesses: Styles could potentially shore up a struggling Giants run defense.

While not the top-rated prospect at the position on every major analyst’s big board, Styles is arguably the most NFL-ready defender with a loaded skillset that makes him an intriguing centerpiece for any defense he steps into next season.

The Giants have already made some changes to their linebacker room, including parting ways with their ironman veteran Bobby Okereke. They also signed Tremaine Edmunds as a better value piece in free agency.

The organization appears to hold significant interest in the Buckeyes product as they look to fortify their unit under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.

Head coach John Harbaugh also made it a staple of the most successful teams he ran during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens to boast an incredibly talented and productive linebacker who can cause all sorts of problems for an opposing offense.

Thus, the one question that lingers as the Giants wait and see whether Styles makes it through the first picks of round one is whether they should grab him up without hesitation at No. 5 overall to anchor the middle of their defense for the foreseeable future.

Pros and Cons of Giants Drafting Sonny Styles

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles — Ohio State Buckeyes Sonny Styles during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

If the Giants thought they found a highly versatile defender in Abdul Carter when they took him at the third overall pick in last year's draft, they'd have another kick coming with the addition of Sonny Styles.

Compared to Carter, who weighs in at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, Styles outmatches him in size with a 6-foot-5 length and a frame that’s just a tad smaller at 243 pounds. The bigger factor that sets the latter apart is its versatility on the football field, taken to a whole other level.

Styles, who entered the college ranks in 2022 as a highly-recruited safety, was an absolute stud in coverage during his first two seasons with the Buckeyes. He allowed just 14 receptions on 24 total targets against him in that span and immediately staked his claim as an efficient tackler that rarely lets missed opportunities turn into big-time plays for the opposition.

Not long after, Styles transitioned to the linebacker position in his junior season, earning reps and developing his game as both an edge rusher and an inside anchor.

No matter where he has played at the collegiate level, the 21-year-old Styles continued to dominate his opponents by showing an ability to stick with any pass catcher at all three levels of the field in coverage and cracking down on the run game, where he has graded above 86.3 in two of his past three seasons.

In 2025, Styles's game reached its peak as he ascended into one of the best shutdown players in the entire nation. He led all FBS linebackers in PFF tackling grade (career-high 92.2) by missing zero of his 82 total tackles and forcing 38 stops.

He also held receivers to 6.5 yards per catch and quarterbacks to a career-low 75.8 passer rating against him.

With the stat abundance and experience that Styles has created in his career, although he is still fairly new to the linebacker position, the Giants could have little doubt in being able to plug him right into the defense alongside Tremaine Edmunds and utilize him as a relentless three-down guy.

His impact in the trenches would be noticeable for the New York defense, which has struggled to stop the run, allowing 5.6 yards per rush attempt in 2025.

As for coverage, Styles could move all over the field, taking on assignments from running backs in the flat to one-on-one duels with receivers in the deep field.

Perhaps more experienced competition at the professional level will know how to dupe a rookie like Styles into making rare mistakes on occasion, but eventually, he could blossom into a piece that is hard to stop once he gets going in attacking the backfield.

Should Sonny Styles Be the Giants' Choice at No. 5?

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles — Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Heading into the first night of the draft on April 23rd, a lot can happen within picks 1-4 that will determine where the Giants go with their best draft asset. John Harbaugh also wants to recruit the one prospect that gives his locker room the best chance to win games next season, regardless of position.

Could that end up being running back Jeremiah Love if he is somehow on the board when the clock turns over to the Giants? It’s a possible outcome, but it feels more likely that Styles will be the best man on their big board, making it an easy decision if that’s the case.

Despite bringing in Tremaine Edmunds, the Giants still have uncertainty with Micah McFadden and his overall health, leaving the door open for Styles to come in and be a major contributor from day one.

Styles’ physical play style and gifted versatility would help the Giants combat several of the issues that plagued them on defense during the 2025 campaign and provide what they hope is another future leader to anchor the defense for years to come.

The Giants have a very good shot of welcoming an Ohio State product to MetLife Stadium in 2026, and if they have a choice of more than one, the first option should be Styles.

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