Giants Eyeing Ohio State's Sonny Styles Over Caleb Downs in NFL Draft

ESPN insider reveals Big Blue's preference between the two Buckeyes stars at No. 5 overall.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:24pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the silhouettes of football players and draft prospects, broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form, conveying the strategic challenges of roster-building in the NFL draft.The Giants' draft decision between two elite Ohio State defenders reflects the complex calculus of building an NFL roster.NYC Today

The New York Giants hold the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are considering taking either Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or linebacker Sonny Styles. According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, the Giants are leaning towards selecting Styles, the off-ball linebacker, over the highly-touted Downs.

Why it matters

The Giants have a number of needs to address in the draft, including at wide receiver, offensive line, linebacker, cornerback and safety. By taking the best player available, regardless of position, they can maximize the value of their top-5 pick. Styles and Downs are both elite defensive prospects, so the Giants' decision will shape the direction of their defense for years to come.

The details

Caleb Downs is a safety from Ohio State, a position that is rarely taken this high in the draft. Sonny Styles is an off-ball linebacker for the Buckeyes, another non-premium position. However, both players are considered among the top defensive talents in this year's class, and the Giants could make a strong case for either one as the best player available at #5 overall.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in late April.

The players

Caleb Downs

An elite safety prospect from Ohio State University.

Sonny Styles

A highly-touted off-ball linebacker from Ohio State University.

John Harbaugh

The new head coach of the New York Giants.

Jordan Raanan

An ESPN insider who reported on the Giants' draft preferences.

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What they’re saying

“Giants could go the best-player-available route... but who would be the best player at that spot, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles? If those are the choices, linebacker it is.”

— Jordan Raanan, ESPN Insider

What’s next

The Giants will make their selection with the 5th overall pick during the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place in late April.

The takeaway

The Giants have a tough decision to make between two elite Ohio State defensive prospects in Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles. By opting for the linebacker Styles over the safety Downs, the Giants would be prioritizing a position of greater need and selecting a potential franchise cornerstone to build their defense around under new head coach John Harbaugh.