As the days pass, the New York Giants are increasingly projected to select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Giants have a clear need at inside linebacker heading into next season. Styles ranks among the top prospects at the position in the 2026 class, making him a strong fit if the front office chooses to address the position with its first selection.
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In the eyes of Mike Band of NFL Network, the Giants will select Styles at No. 5 overall on draft day, as he projects in his recent mock.
With John Harbaugh calling the shots, this feels like the kind of pick that reflects a “gold jacket” mentality over rigid positional-value rules. Styles gives the Giants a franchise-defining playmaker whose size, range and physicality fit the mold Harbaugh has long valued in the middle of his defense, while still aligning with GM Joe Schoen’s history of betting on elite athletes with elite production.
Styles recorded one sack, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three passes defensed in 2025. His strong showing at the 2026 NFL Combine reinforced his status as a projected top-five pick and highlighted his potential to contribute to the Giants as early as next season.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Sonny Styles to New York Giants picks up steam in Mike Band’s mock draft