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Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles reacting in the middle of the OSU Pro Day.
The New York Jets could be shaking things up.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed on the new “Jets Collective” podcast a juicy rumor he heard at the Annual League Meetings.
“The No. 2 pick is not a clear-cut pick. If you put a gun to my head right now, I’d probably pick [Arvell] Reese at two. I think [David] Bailey is a factor. Something I heard in Phoenix, let’s not rule out Sonny Styles, by the way. The Jets got a good, long look at him last week in Columbus at his Pro Day. I don’t think they would do it at two, but they’re very intrigued by Sonny Styles,” Cimini explained.
“So yeah, if you could trade down to eight and get a Styles or Caleb Downs, and pick up some premium picks in the process, I think that makes a lot of sense,” Cimini added.
NFL draft analyst Drew Beatty told me on “Boy Green Daily” that he believes the Jets’ decision for the No. 2 overall pick is down to two players:
This Styles rumor would shake up that thought process and have a huge ripple effect at the top of the draft.
Analyst’s Take on Positional Value Debate
If the Jets didn’t take Styles at two, but were interested in him, there would be one reason why: positional value.
Styles is an off-ball linebacker. That isn’t considered a premium position in the NFL.
However, ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid joined the “Now Boarding” podcast and explained why that shouldn’t be a major factor this year.
“I think this is the type of draft where you throw the positional value out of the window. We’re seeing guys like a Caleb Downs, a Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame, who I think are the two best players in this year’s draft, being considered as top-10 picks just because of the lack of quarterbacks and the lack of blue-chip talent at the top of the draft,” Reid said.
“It makes sense to consider somebody like Sonny Styles at No. 2 overall. If that’s the direction that the Jets go, I wouldn’t be surprised by that at all. He is such a clean evaluation from the tape he put on this year, the performance he put on at the combine, and then just the things that he has been able to get better at throughout the season … I have compared [Styles] to Fred Warner. I don’t think anybody is going to complain about taking a Fred Warner type of player at No. 2 overall,” Reid added.
.@Jordan_Reid had a great conversation w/ @eallenjets about the #Jets & positional value in the 1st round:
‘I think this is the type of draft where you throw positional value out of the window.’
Reid said he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if NYJ opted to go in the direction of Ohio
A Clear Need for Jets, a Clearly Talented Player
Styles, 21, will turn 22 during his rookie season in 2026.
The Jets have Demario Davis at linebacker, but beyond that, there are plenty of questions. Davis, 37, has been an NFL ironman, but he is clearly closer to the end of his journey than the beginning.
If the Jets drafted Styles, they could let him learn from Davis, who signed a two-year deal this offseason, and then he could take the torch from him inevitably down the line.
The former Ohio State product is ranked as the sixth-best overall prospect in this class and the third-best defender, according to the consensus big board.
Styles appeared in 53 games during his college career. He started as a safety and then converted to the linebacker position. With those opportunities, Styles collected nine sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, and nine pass deflections.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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