Sonny Styles leads standout LB show at the 2026 NFL Combine

Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Combine highlighted linebackers, with Sonny Styles (Ohio State) delivering one of the event's most complete athletic performances, including a fast 10-yard split, a sub-4.5 40, a 43.5-inch vertical, an 11-foot-2 broad jump, and elite agility—earning NFL.com's top linebacker score and a potential top-five trajectory; Cincinnati's Jake Golday and Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez joined him as standout athletes (Golday 1.6/4.62 split, 39-inch vertical, 10-foot-5 broad; Rodriguez 1.6/4.57, 38.5-inch vertical, 10-foot-1 broad, plus strong 3-cone and short shuttle). Pittsburgh's Kyle Louis also posted elite marks (1.58/4.53, 39.5-inch vertical, 10-foot-9 broad, 6.97 3-cone, 4.26 shuttle). Texas's Anthony Hill did not participate in drills but posted strong measurables (1.58/4.51, 37-inch vertical, 10-foot-5 broad) and has drawn Lions interest after a meeting. The piece frames Styles as a potential top-five pick, while noting Hill's lack of on-field drills leaves questions to answer.