New York Giants Open to Selecting a Linebacker at Fifth Overall in the 2026 NFL Draft

The New York Giants enter the 2026 NFL Draft with numerous talents they could select with the fifth overall pick. Most experts are looking at New York to fill big holes at important positions such as offensive line, defensive back, or wide receiver. With this being said, there have been recent rumors that the New York Giants could go with the best available player at fifth. One big name that has stirred up rumors is Ohio State Linebacker Sonny Styles.

The former Ohio State football star developed into one of the smartest and most athletic players in college football last season. Styles was a former safety before being moved to linebacker. He possesses the speed and athleticism of a defensive back. In college, this allowed Ohio State to use him in multiple ways, whether it was stopping the run, edge rushing, or being used as a coverage linebacker. Which is something all teams, especially the Giants, who had trouble in most of these spots last season, find intriguing.

This past week, during an episode of Breaking Big Blue, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan told the audience that the New York Giants have shown major interest in drafting a linebacker with their top-five selection. That big-name player we are talking about, of course, is the 21-year-old, who was already coming into this draft as a player who was looked at highly, but after this year's NFL Combine, a possible top-five selection is heating up. He put on one of the best performances we have ever seen from a linebacker. At six-foot-five and 244 pounds. Styles recorded a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, 11-foot-two-inch broad jump, and a 43.5-inch vertical, which was the highest ever for a linebacker.

The 21-year-old isn't only gifted with unreal athletic ability, but he also has been praised for his knowledge of the game. His ability to recognize defenses and communicate with his team is something most linebackers don't have. A player like this, paired with an already young and talented defense with the likes of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Abdul Carter, could be scary. If these rumors of Styles to New York do turn out to be true The New York Giants could be looking at a new linebacker group. This past Wednesday, it was reported that former Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke had been released, so a spot for the 21-year-old is there for the taking if the Giants go his way come draft night.