Sonny Styles leads LBs group in 2026 NFL Draft class: Insights from 'Football 301'
Linebacker value remains a source of NFL front-office debate. With rare talent like Styles redefining what a star LB looks like, and CJ Allen and Anthony Hill Jr. set to contribute early, this class offers ceiling and safety.
On an episode of Yahoo Sports’ “Football 301,” hosts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald dig deep into the 2026 NFL Draft class, focusing on what many are calling a refreshingly strong and interesting crop of linebackers. If you’re a fan of defense or curious about which college prospects are set to shape NFL defenses in the years ahead, “Football 301’s” breakdown is a must-listen. While linebacker value remains a source of NFL front-office debate, both Tice and McDonald are bullish on the top of this group.
With rare talent like Sonny Styles redefining the template for what a star linebacker looks like, and high-floor prospects like CJ Allen and Anthony Hill Jr. set to contribute early, this class offers both ceiling and safety. As Tice puts it, “Styles is one of those dudes” — the kind a franchise can build a defense around, even in a league obsessed with offense.
Here’s a look at the most notable names and takeaways from their linebacker analysis. 1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State Tice and McDonald were quick to single out Styles as not just the best linebacker in this class, but possibly one of the best prospects overall.
Styles, whose athleticism exploded at the scouting combine, stands out for his size (at 6-foot-4-6-5, around 240 pounds) and his background as a converted safety. He’s a blend of physicality, intelligence and range that’s tailor-made for today’s NFL. Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season The comparisons are ambitious: Fred Warner’s name comes up.