Commanders Sign No. 7 Pick Sonny Styles
The Commanders officially added nine undrafted free agents to their roster yesterday. Their list of rookies on the books now includes the team’s top selection.
Linebacker Sonny Styles signed his rookie deal on Friday, per a team announcement. He will collect $37.2MM fully guaranteed over the next four years. That includes a $23.9MM signing bonus. Washington could keep Styles under team control through 2030 via the fifth-year option.
The Commanders entered last month’s draft in need of defensive upgrades, so it came as little surprise when they took Styles off the board seventh overall. The Ohio State standout was widely regarded as one of the top players in the class, although like others in that respect he was the subject of questions regarding his positional value. Washington did not expect Styles to still be available at No. 7, but he will be counted on to operate as an impactful presence at the second level early and often in his career.
A converted safety, Styles thrived when playing at linebacker with the Buckeyes. He racked up 182 tackles, seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss across the 2024 and ’25 seasons, and high-end production at the NFL level would go a long way in bringing about defensive improvements for Washington. The team added Leo Chenal during free agency on a three-year deal, and he and Styles will be expected to work as a tandem in the nation’s capital now and in the future.
The Commanders ranked 30th against the run in 2025; Styles could help them improve in that regard while also contributing as a pass rush presence when used as a blitzer. Washington’s rookie minicamp will take place this weekend, giving the team its first look at Styles and marking the beginning of his acclimation to the team’s new-look defense.
Commanders Were Not Expecting Sonny Styles At No. 7
Sonny Styles was frequently pegged as a top-five pick during the pre-draft process, but the Cardinals and the Titans both went in other directions at Nos. 3 and 4.
That left Styles’ Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese available to the Giants at No. 5, and they quickly swooped in to select the top-ranked player on their board. New York was one of the frequently-mocked destinations for Styles, but they preferred Reese’s versatility and upside as an edge rusher.
The Chiefs then traded up to the No. 6 pick, but for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Styles then fell to the Commanders at No. 7, an outcome they were not expecting, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.
Washington was interested in trading back (thought not up) from No. 7, Palmer adds, and leapt at the opportunity to secure one of their favorite prospects in the draft.
Styles will immediately slot in as a starter in Daronte Jones’ new defense, likely partnered with free agent signing Leo Chenal. Frankie Luvu, who is entering the last of his contract, played significantly more time off the edge in 2025 relative to his previous time as an off-ball linebacker. He will likely have a bigger role as a pass rusher in 2026 with Styles working next Chenal.
The Commanders have no complaints about landing Styles, but they enter Day 2 of the draft having not addressed any of their major positions of need. Washington needs a center and could stand to add depth at tight end and running back as well. They do not pick until the third round at No. 71 overall after trading their second-rounder to the Texans last offseason for Laremy Tunsil.
Commanders Add LB Sonny Styles At No. 7
Another Ohio State prospect has come off the board early. Linebacker Sonny Styles has been selected seventh overall by the Commanders. Just two picks after seeing his teammate Arvell Reese get drafted to New York, Styles comes off the board as the first true off-ball linebacker drafted. Styles becomes the highest drafted off-ball linebacker since Devin White went fifth overall in 2019.
Styles had to wait a bit longer than his fellow member of the Buckeye’s linebacking corps and new division-rival, Reese. Styles played very sparingly as a true freshman and found himself in a rotational role in Year 2. Unlike Reese, Styles played a much bigger part in Ohio State’s run to a national championship as a starter alongside Cody Simon. That year, he recorded collegiate career highs in total tackles (100), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (6.0), and passes defensed (5), benefiting by getting to make plays off Simon’s steady coverage in the middle.
Styles will head to Washington, where he should immediately take on a starting role, picking up the torch laid down by future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. While it would’ve been beneficial for Styles to get to learn under Wagner, the Commanders get the benefit of drafting an immediate plug-and-play replacement for the stellar veteran. Washington had signed former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal to fill in next to Frankie Luvu in the linebacking corps, but both players have filled similar versatile roles to what Reese did next to Styles in Columbus in recent years, and Styles’ addition to the roster should allow them to continue in those roles.
With draft pick salaries slotted automatically, Styles is locked into a four-year, $37.21MM rookie deal. The contract is fully guaranteed, giving him the third-most guaranteed money at his position in the league, behind only Roquan Smith and Fred Warner.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Titans Still Considering Sonny Styles?
A Wednesday report indicated the Titans might be down to going wide receiver or edge rusher with the No. 4 overall pick. Jeremiyah Love may well be in play there, though he has been increasingly linked to the Cardinals at No. 3. Closing the door on Sonny Styles here may also be premature.
The Titans have considered Styles here, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the Commanders have also spent a lot of time with the Ohio State linebacker. Washington’s Styles visit came before his other reported “30” summits. The Commanders, however, sit three spots behind the Titans in the draft order.
If the Titans choose Styles at 4, it would mark the earliest an off-ball linebacker has come off the board since Aaron Curry went fourth overall to the Seahawks in 2009. Robert Saleh has certainly been tied to impressive linebacker play, having coached Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. The Jets never addressed this position before Round 5, however, during Saleh’s time as the team’s HC.
Tennessee has not made a surefire addition to its starting linebacker at the ILB spot this offseason, however. Returners Cody Barton and Cedric Gray remain in place, with ex-Browns contributor Mohamoud Diabate added on a one-year, $1.63MM deal. Still, this would be rather early to take an off-ball LB. As our Adam La Rose noted in his most recent mailbag, Styles’ versatility and presence as a blitzer have helped him vault to this spot as a likely top-eight pick. And he would fill a need in Tennessee, where NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has him going in his final mock.
Another gameplan here would be either taking Love — which ESPN’s Matt Miller has them doing — and addressing the ILB spot on Day 2. That would help the Commanders, though the Giants have been linked to Styles at multiple points at No. 5. Washington, which has been closely tied to going defense at No. 7, has not re-signed Bobby Wagner; though, the team did sign ex-Chief Leo Chenal (three years, $24MM) last month. The Cowboys have been tied to Styles in a trade-up move, however, and Cleveland has been regularly linked to moving down from No. 6. Ely Allen’s PFR mock has Styles heading to Washington at 7.
Cowboys Rumors: Styles, Bain, Safeties
The Cowboys are entering the draft with a pair of first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20), but they might not land two players they deem worthy of first-round selections. Speaking with reporters Wednesday, executive vice president Stephen Jones revealed that they have only given first-round grades to 12 players (links via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS).
Owning multiple firsts may give the Cowboys the ammunition to move up for one of their favorite prospects, but Jones does not anticipate vaulting into the top five. He said doing so is not a possibility for the Cowboys. That jibes with a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who writes that the Cowboys are more likely to make a “small move up” than do anything drastic.
The Cowboys do not appear willing to surrender the 20th pick to climb the board. If anything, they could trade down from 20 to replenish Day 2 capital, per Graziano. The Cowboys traded their second-rounder to the Jets in last November’s Quinnen Williams blockbuster, leaving a 72-pick gap from No. 20 to their next selection (No. 92).
As of Wednesday morning, Jones said the Cowboys had not many any calls about trading up. Doing so has been a rarity for Dallas, which Graziano notes has not gone up in Round 1 since 2012. But the team is “exploring” what it would cost to move up a few spots for Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles if he lasts into the back half of the top 10, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. Drafting Styles should give the Cowboys a desperately needed off-ball linebacker upgrade. It was a glaring weakness entering the offseason, but it has gone unaddressed thus far.
Edge defender and safety are also among the areas the Cowboys could strengthen in the draft. As expected, this year’s top two safety prospects – Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – have caught their attention, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports relays. Having already added two new safeties (Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke) to one edge defender (Rashan Gary), the Cowboys regard the latter position as the greater need, ESPN’s Matt Miller reports. However, they do not see Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. as a fit in rookie coordinator Christian Parker‘s 3-4 defense. Bain is unlikely to make it to 12, but if the Cowboys trade up, it does not appear he will be the target.
Giants Draft Latest: Styles, Downs, Love, Ioane, Fano, Tyson, Trade
For the second time in four years, the Giants hold two top-10 picks in a draft. Joe Schoen‘s first draft did not maximize the value at Nos. 5 and 7, where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal arrived. If the GM is to save his job, he will need to serve as a meaningful contributor while a John Harbaugh-fronted regime navigates the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.
The Giants obtained No. 10 from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence. While that haul surprised some Giants decisionmakers, the team bungling the Neal pick reminds how having such meaningful draft real estate can backfire. Several possibilities certainly exist for Big Blue near the top of this draft.
A path where the Giants grab Sonny Styles at No. 5 and emerge from No. 10 with another offensive line starter should be considered in play, according to SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A GM informed La Canfora that Styles will not be available by No. 10, so if Harbaugh wants a Roquan Smith-type linebacking anchor, the Giants would need to pull the trigger at 5.
Likely set to be the highest ILB drafted since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, Styles has been connected to the Titans at No. 4. With the Jets down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey and the Cardinals not tied to Styles much, it would seemingly be down to Tennessee passing to greenlight a Giants pick.
The Giants have two locked-in tackle starters, in Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, but their guard posts do not feature a long-term piece. Although Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cut candidate months ago, he remains on the roster. The former Packer is entering the final season of a three-year, $30MM contract and may not be a roster lock, and the team signed ex-Raven (one of many brought in under Harbaugh) Daniel Faalele to go with Lucas Patrick. Those players could be swing options, however, and La Canfora hears Harbaugh “loves” Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Ioane has been linked to Baltimore at No. 14, where Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sent him. Prior to the Lawrence trade, Ely mocked Francis Mauigoa to New York at No. 5. The Giants have an interesting opportunity to add a quality O-line option thanks to holding a second first-rounder, and Ioane should remain on the board by No. 10. Kadyn Proctor and Spencer Fano, two tackle prospects who could slide to guard (joining Mauigoa in that regard), also are believed to be on the Giants’ radar, per La Canfora.
Wide receiver should also be considered a factor for the Giants, especially at No. 10. They have been linked closely to Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, and ESPN.com’s Dan Grazino adds more fuel to the Tyson-to-New York fire by noting the team indeed is fond of the injury-prone Arizona State talent. Tyson has been one of the pre-draft process’ late climbers, as his recent workout showcased upside Tate may not carry. Tate is viewed as a safer prospect, however.
Another scenario for New York may feature Tyson at 10 — if he is still available — but Caleb Downs over Styles at 5, with Graziano adding multiple sources have informed him the Giants would be likely to take the ex-Buckeyes safety over the linebacker if both are available. Downs has been linked to the Giants for weeks, and the Ravens certainly valued the safety position — from Ed Reed to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas to Kyle Hamilton — under Harbaugh.
A wrench in this plan exists at running back, though. Interest in Jeremiyah Love could prompt the Giants to table a defensive pick and go for the dual-threat Notre Dame RB prospect, with Graziano noting Love will be squarely in play — perhaps even over Downs — if he’s still available at 5. Some in the Giants’ building are holding out hope for Love at 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with ESPN colleague Jordan Raanan finding it difficult to envision the team passing. Love would mark the organization’s second top-five RB investment in nine years. A Saquon Barkley ceiling is uncertain here, but teams have been rewarded for recent first-round RB picks — as possible 2023 extension recipients Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight.
While Fowler also points to the Giants closely eyeing an O-line upgrade at No. 10 in the event Downs is the pick at 5 — mentioning Fano and Ioane — EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline offers more on the receiver front. A concern exists Malik Nabers may not be 100% by Week 1, and Pauline goes as far as to say the Giants “will” use the No. 10 choice on a receiver.
Short-term Nabers concerns would not be a great reason to make a long-term WR investment with such a high pick, though if Tyson or Tate ends up being higher on New York’s board compared to Fano or Ioane, pairing Nabers with one of them makes sense. Tate may be unlikely to fall past New Orleans at No. 8, however. Pauline also cites a source close to Ioane who believes No. 10 might be a bit early for the draft’s top guard prospect to go.
Trading down would represent another route here, and we heard the Giants were open to moving back from No. 5 a bit ago. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy hears the Giants would be willing to make a small move back from No. 5 to obtain more Day 2 capital. New York traded its third-round pick to climb up for Jaxson Dart last year. A scenario in which the Cardinals take Love at No. 3 leaving the Titans with a Styles-or-EDGE selection could accelerate Giants trade talks, and either Bailey or Reese remaining on the board at 5 could prompt a trade-up — as the Giants are not in need of OLB help.
As if we aren’t deep enough in this web — big night, Giants fans — Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer is iffy the Giants would use the No. 5 pick on Downs. But the veteran insider confirms the team’s interest in Tyson (who dined with Schoen while the latter was in town for his workout). No. 5 might not even be too high for Tyson, though that would be higher than expected.
The Giants view Tyson as “so dynamic,” Glazer adds. He posted a 1,100-yard season in 2022 but has suffered major knee and collarbone injuries prior to multiple bouts with hamstring trouble. Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons have also emerged here. Were Tyson to become a Giant, a Beckham reunion may not come to pass.
NFL Draft Trade Rumors: Cowboys, Browns, Titans
The first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft is only four days away, and rumors persist concerning a wild Day 1 of potential trades. The Cowboys have been a frequent subject in trade rumors, with many asserting that the team could be looking to trade up into the top 10.
The consensus belief is that, even without a trade, the Cowboys’ two first-round picks will be used on defense. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports believes new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will have some influence on the team’s draft plan, which should guarantee two new first-round defenders. Jones asserts that, if the team does trade up, the trade won’t include their second first-rounder, considering they won’t be picking again until pick No. 92. NFL insider Jason La Canfora posited that the trade up target for Dallas could be LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms that all eyes are on the Cowboys, who many expect to be eager to move up “due to obvious defensive needs.” So far, though, Dallas has not been “overly active” on the phones just yet. He reports the team is “open-minded about (a) potential move but also (is) comfortable staying put.”
Here are a few other draft rumors concerning teams looking to trade on Day 1 of the NFL draft:
- The Browns could be a target for Dallas if they do decide to move. Per La Canfora, Cleveland is widely expected to drop out of the top 10 picks. The team currently holds pick Nos. 6 and 24 in the first round of the draft, but even that may not be enough to fill the holes on their roster. The Browns are notorious for trading down, and if the sixth overall pick doesn’t present a strong chance at major improvement, they may move to add some additional draft capital.
- As Fowler mentioned above that the Cowboys had not been active on the phones, he did report a belief that the recent phone work around the league seems to indicate that the Titans could be looking to trade back from the fourth overall pick. A year removed from landing the No. 1 overall pick, Tennessee still has quite a few holes on the roster. Some have connected the team to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in recent predictions. Earlier on in process, it was rumored that a reunion between quarterback Cam Ward and college teammates right tackle Francis Mauigoa or defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was in the cards. Love and Styles may make sense in their current slot, but moving back may allow Tennessee to target Mauigoa or Bain.
Commanders Eyeing Defense In Round 1?
On the strength of a surprisingly strong rookie Jayden Daniels campaign, the Commanders found themselves a game away from a Super Bowl appearance in 2024. Significant missed time for Daniels and a number of other key contributors led in part to a disappointing 2025 campaign, but another huge factor was a defense that gave up the most yards and the sixth-most points in the NFL. Because of that, ESPN’s Peter Schrager believes Washington will be looking to add to their defense when their pick in the first round arrives.
The Commanders have already done a bit of work to improve things on that side of the ball in free agency, signing outside linebackers Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu, linebacker Leo Chenal, defensive tackle Tim Settle, cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon, and safety Nick Cross. Settle should join Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw on the defensive line.
Chenal should slot in next to Frankie Luvu to replace veteran Bobby Wagner in the starting lineup. Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu should bolster a pass rush that lost Jacob Martin and veteran Von Miller. Alongside a pair of recent high draft picks, Robertson and Witherspoon will attempt to make up for snaps lost with the departures of Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene, while Cross should be an improvement at safety.
Despite the recent struggles of Payne and Kinlaw, the team already has enough salary sunk into the position, and there isn’t really an interior defender worth taking No. 7 overall. It’s probably safe to eliminate cornerback knowing the team added second-rounders in each of the past two drafts. The Commanders are also probably okay with the back end of their secondary being manned by Cross and Quan Martin, while Jeremy Reaves and Will Harris add depth. That leaves the inside and outside linebacker groups as the best areas to attack.
Schrager believes off-ball linebacker will be the play, projecting Ohio State’s Sonny Styles as the pick. Styles certainly could be a strong addition to the linebacking corps; he’s widely projected as the draft’s top option at the position. Wagner and Luvu dominated the snap share available at the linebacker position on Washington’s defense last year. Each player totaled over 1,100 snaps on defense, and the linebacker with the next-highest snap count topped out at 364. Even as a starter in Kansas City, Chenal was more of a rotation piece on the Chiefs defense. He didn’t even see half the snaps his fellow starters did.
Additionally, neither Luvu nor Chenal worked primarily off-ball last year. Both players served in fairly versatile roles by often lining up on the edge. Chenal split his time about 60-40 favoring off-ball work, while Luvu was much closer to 50-50. Because the Commanders lost their veteran, off-ball stalwart, Styles makes a ton of sense here. Installing the Buckeyes’ top inside linebacker prospect in the middle would allow for Luvu and Chenal to continue in their roaming, supportive roles.
The team could also look at edge rusher. Unfortunately, Styles’ fellow linebacker — and projected NFL edge rusher — Arvell Reese is expected to be long gone at this point in the draft. After Reese, there’s an expectation that one of either Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. will also be selected. There’s a strong possibility that the prospect that isn’t selected after Reese could make its way to Washington at the ninth pick.
Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu certainly improve the team’s pass rush over what was left following departures in free agency, but they have only one double-digit sack season between the three of them. If they get an opportunity to add Bailey or Bain in this spot, it may be hard to pass up that kind of value.
This also disregards the offensive side of the ball, where the departures of Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown make wide receiver a potential position of need, as well. Ultimately, several factors will affect the decision the Commanders make 12 days from now, and even those factors could change in the time between then and now. But if Schrager is correct, and the Commanders have defense in mind on Day 1, a linebacker could be an impact move for the franchise and defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn.
Bengals Meet With Sonny Styles, Akheem Mesidor
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were not the only defensive prospects who visited the Bengals on Friday. The team also met with the Styles brothers, Sonny and Lorenzo, as well as Akheem Mesidor, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Lorenzo Styles Jr., a former Notre Dame receiver who transitioned to cornerback at Ohio State, is not a touted prospect. The opposite is true in regards to Sonny Styles, who played with his brother at OSU. Sonny Styles’ stock has soared enough that he could become a rare off-ball linebacker to go near the top of the draft. The Jets are reportedly considering the 6-foot-5, 244-pounder at No. 2 overall. The Cardinals (No. 3) and Giants (No. 5) are also among the teams that hold Styles in high regard.
The Ohio-born Styles may be gone by the time the Bengals are on the clock at No. 10, but he is worth a pre-draft look for a team in desperate need of defensive help. While the Bengals spent second- and fourth-round picks on linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter a year ago, neither fared especially well as rookies. An upgrade could come in the form of Styles, who followed up a first-team All-America season with a marvelous Combine performance. Among linebackers, the 21-year-old finished first in the 40-yard dash (4.46), 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. His 43.5-inch vertical leap was the highest for anyone his height in 23 years.
Mesidor, another Miami defensive end, teamed with Bain over the past three seasons. While Bain is expected to come off the board first, there are teams that like Mesidor better. The main knock on Mesidor, who played two seasons at West Virginia and four at Miami, is his age. The 6-3, 280-pounder is already 25 years old.
Mesidor also has a past foot injury that limited him to three games in 2023, but he bounced back well in the two seasons since then. He is heading to the pros after piling up personal bests in tackles for loss (17.5), sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (four) during a 15-game, second-team All-America campaign.
After picking 10th, the Bengals are scheduled to make their second choice at 41st overall. Neither selection looks like the ideal slot for Mesidor, whom Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 23) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 28) rank in the 20s. Nevertheless, it is no surprise the Bengals are interested in bolstering a set of edge defenders that lost star Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens and Joseph Ossai to the Jets in free agency. The Bengals signed ex-Seahawk Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60MM deal last month, but they could still add to a group that also features Myles Murphy and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart.
Sonny Styles In Play For Jets; Latest On Team’s Plans At No. 2 Overall
It may not be a two-man race for the Jets at No. 2 overall. Although New York has long been tied to bringing in an edge rusher with that choice, one of this class’ impact talents at a non-premium position may be in play still.
The Jets are viewed as “incredibly high” on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora notes. Styles’ transition from safety to linebacker and his eye-catching Combine performance rocketed him up draft boards. Even though off-ball linebacker is not traditionally in play for teams this high, the 6-foot-5 defender may be an exception.
Styles joins Jeremiyah Love and ex-Buckeyes teammate Caleb Downs as high-floor prospects in this class who play positions devalued — to a degree, at least — on the marketplace. Styles and Love are firmly in the mix to be top-five picks, with Downs being closely connected to the Giants at No. 5 as well. No pure linebacker has gone in the top five since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019; to find an off-ball ‘backer who went second overall, going back much farther is required.
Technically, the Broncos placed Von Miller as a 4-3 outside ‘backer to start his career — but the future Hall of Famer was/is a pass rusher. The 2000 draft featured Washington selecting LaVar Arrington second overall. Though Arrington became a Pro Bowler and was technically a 4-3 OLB as well, he showcased pass-rushing chops (17 sacks from 2002-03). If the Jets are to seriously consider Styles at 2, he would presumably need to be used regularly as a rusher.
Drawing Fred Warner comparisons, Styles transitioned from safety to linebacker in 2024 and did post six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss that season. He finished with one sack and 6.5 TFLs in 2025 but earned rave reviews as a pure non-rush ‘backer. Styles going ahead of teammate Arvell Reese — his linebacker teammate in Columbus who flashed brightly as a part-time pass rusher — or Texas Tech’s David Bailey would surprise, considering the Jets’ frequent connections to taking an EDGE here. But Styles’ combination of athleticism and production may have him in contention for a contract north of Travis Hunter‘s ($46.65MM) at No. 2 overall soon.
That said, Styles still looks like an underdog to be chosen this early. A Reese-or-Bailey decision that reminds of Jacksonville’s Travon Walker–Aidan Hutchinson debate from 2022 remains the more relevant topic here, as ESPN’s Field Yates notes an “overwhelming majority” of evaluators view the answer to this question as the one that will decide who goes second overall.
Furthering this debate, Yates ESPN colleague Matt Miller notes Bailey is believed to have more fans in the Jets’ building while fellow ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid predicts Reese — the Walker in this scenario — will be the pick. While this debate is believed to be ongoing, a previous report pointed to Reese being the Jets’ preference.
A Reese choice would be a bet on upside, having logged fewer than 100 pass-rushing snaps last season. Bailey led Division I-FBS with 14.5 sacks last season and combined for 12 while at Stanford from 2023-24. Hutchinson has proven to be the more impactful player, and that probably has come up in Jets meetings as the team with the first non-Fernando Mendoza pick deliberates.
Carnell Tate is not viewed as a frontrunner in this discussion, though Miller adds the Jets “really like” the former Buckeyes wide receiver. The lack of a long-term quarterback plan may be impacting the organization with regards to Tate at No. 2. Tate is viewed as a potential top-five pick and appears a lock to be chosen in the top 10, but the Jets have long been tied to a pass rusher to pair with Will McDonald. Styles would be a slight upset given his position, though it would be interesting to see the Jets make that move over Bailey or Reese. The Cardinals and Titans, who both could use EDGE help, will see their fortunes impacted by the Jets’ call here.