Sonny Styles' Historic Combine Workout Sends Draft Boards Into Flux

At the NFL combine on Thursday, sonny styles produced a historic workout that immediately reshaped draft chatter as teams count down 56 days to the NFL Draft. The 21-year-old former safety, who reclassified in high school and followed an 83-tackle season with his performance, is projected to be selected No. 12 by the Cowboys in a recent mock draft and now looks every bit the top-15 prospect evaluators expected.

Sonny Styles' measurables: vertical, broad jump and 40-yard dash

Styles stole the spotlight with a 43. 5-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump. That vertical was only 1. 5 inches shy of the all-time combine record, and Styles was the only player over 240 pounds to clear 43 inches since 2003. His broad jump ranks fourth among linebackers at the combine since 1999. He also posted a 4. 46-second 40-yard dash, a time tied for the best of the day with former Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese. The combination produced an estimated athletic score of 92, the highest among all linebackers on the day.

How the tape and other measurements stack up

At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Styles draws immediate physical comparisons to some of the sport's most imposing targets. He measures up closely to a former Detroit Lions receiver known for size and speed, and he checks taller or heavier than other noted playmakers while posting a higher vertical than each. Scouts noted his basketball background at Pickerington Central (Ohio) — a high school highlight reel that included rim-shaking dunks and blocks — and his time on the same high school squad as Devin Royal was cited as part of his multi-sport athletic foundation.

Family ties, college context and teammates

Sonny Styles comes from a family steeped in football. He is the son of Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played for the Buckeyes from 1992 to 1994 before a six-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Rams, and who won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams. His older brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., transferred from Notre Dame and played alongside him at Ohio State; Styles Jr. later ran an even faster 40-yard time of 4. 28 and was a former kick returner.

Ohio State's defensive depth further contextualized Styles' outing. The Buckeyes' defensive firepower simplified the job for defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in his first college coaching gig in 22 years. Teammate Arvell Reese is expected to be an early pick and was shown among the top combine performers; safety Caleb Downs is scheduled to work out on Friday and is expected to be one of the first defensive players selected in the draft, while cornerback Davison Igbinosun will also be on the field Friday.

National reactions and the "frame mogged" moment

National reaction followed quickly. A side-by-side comparison aired on a national broadcast that overlaid Styles' sprint with notable NFL defenders and pass-catchers, and neither kept pace with Styles' 4. 46 time. Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton reacted with humor to the comparison, saying he felt like the rest of us on Thursday and calling Styles "1 of 1. " The clip prompted discussion of being "frame mogged, " a slang term for when someone with a larger or more dominant physical build makes someone else look smaller or less athletic by comparison.

Combine ripple effects for teams and the Ravens' draft focus

Styles is now widely viewed as a likely top-15 pick after one of the day’s best performances. The workout also highlighted other prospects: tight ends Kenyon Sadiq and Eli Stowers impressed during their sessions. For the Ravens, the combine reinforced roster priorities. Sonny Styles and college lineman Caleb Banks made headlines for impressive physical traits, while the broader 2026 draft class — noted for talented edge players — figures into plans to strengthen pass rush options.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta emphasized the premium on the interior line, saying he views defensive tackle as "one of the most important positions in football. " New head coach Jesse Minter stressed that the league is driven by the offensive and defensive lines, and both Minter and the front office want to beef up in the trenches. The franchise also noted historical roster moves — the team has drafted two tight ends in the same class four times — and left open the possibility of roster continuity in some areas, including not ruling out an Isaiah Likely return and a desire to retain center Tyler Linderbaum before the start of the new league year.

For now, sonny styles' climb on draft boards is undeniable; his blend of size, explosiveness and measurable speed underlines why teams and fans are recalibrating quickly as the draft approaches in 56 days.