The linebacker room of the Dallas Cowboys feels like a game of musical chairs where half the chairs are missing legs. While the team has some young, recent high draft picks like DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Liufau on the roster, health or development has kept them from reaching their true upside. Add in the fact that linebacker is the one spot the front office has yet to address in free agency, and suddenly things feel quite uneasy at the position.
To keep their defense from getting gashed in the run game or burned by athletic pass catchers over the seam, the Cowboys need to inject some youth and elite athleticism into the second level. If they want to stop getting the defensive shellacking they have been receiving regularly, they should look closely at a prospect who possesses a game built for the bright lights of AT&T Stadium.
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LB, Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 244 lbs | Speed: 4.46 forty time
Background
When your mom nicknames you after one of the most intense characters in cinema, Sonny Corleone, you know chaos is coming. Sonny Styles is the definition of a high achiever who makes the rest of us feel like we spent our teenage years doing remarkably little. He arrived at Ohio State as a 17-year-old freshman after graduating high school early, essentially skipping his senior prom to go hit Big Ten tight ends.
He spent his first two seasons in Columbus patrolling the secondary as a safety before bulking up and sliding down to linebacker for the 2024 season. The transition was seamless, as he racked up 100 tackles and showed a natural nose for the football in the box. To top it off, he absolutely shattered expectations at the combine, setting a new vertical jump record for linebackers as well as earning a perfect RAS score of 10.00, the highest score of any linebacker tracked all the way back to 1987.
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Strengths
The first thing you notice about Styles is his remarkable athleticism, which allows him to cover ground like he is equipped with a jetpack. His sideline-to-sideline range is elite, meaning ball carriers who think they have the edge often find the 244-pound Buckeye waiting for them with bad intentions. Because of his safety background, his coverage ability is leagues ahead of that of your average linebacker, allowing him to stick to receivers in space. His tackling technique is clinical and wrap-up heavy, ensuring that once he gets his hands on a runner the play is officially over.
Beyond his physical gifts, Styles displays an advanced diagnostic ability that allows him to sniff out screens and draws before they develop. His versatility is a major selling point as he can drop into a deep zone or blitz off the edge with equal effectiveness. When he does engage with offensive linemen, he uses violent hands to shock blockers and shed contact, refusing to let a 300-pound guard dictate his afternoon.
Weaknesses
While the ceiling is high, Styles is still learning the nuances of life as a linebacker. His play strength can occasionally be tested by powerful interior blockers who can wash him out if they get into his chest. He also has a tendency to bite on play-action or counter steps, a byproduct of his aggressive see ball, get ball mentality. There is some slight hip tightness when he has to turn and run in man coverage against smaller, shiftier targets. Ultimately, his limited experience at the linebacker position means there are still some growing pains ahead as he masters the discipline required for the role.
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The Fit
In a defensive scheme run by Christian Parker, versatility and speed are the names of the game in the second and third level. Styles fits perfectly as a modern money linebacker who can stay on the field for all three downs regardless of the offensive personnel. Parker loves players who can disguise their intentions until the last second, and Styles’ background as a safety makes him the ultimate chess piece. His ability to erase tight ends in man coverage and fly to the flat to stop perimeter runs aligns exactly with the aggressive, fast-paced identity the Cowboys are looking to establish.
The Final Word
Styles is currently projected as a top 10 pick, and there’s a chance that all this is moot as he won’t be there when pick 12 arrives. However, if the Sonny shines right for the Cowboys, he would immediately provide the team with a lightning-fast missile to help give the team a mafia-style makeover at linebacker. He possesses the range to cover the whole field and the versatility to keep opposing coordinators guessing until the whistle blows. Sitting there at 12 would give the Cowboys an offer they can’t refuse, and he would become the new godfather of the defense.
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