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In the 2026 NFL draft, three Ohio State defensive players were drafted to the same division — the NFC East — in the first 11 picks.
We’re all well aware that the Commanders drafted LB Sonny Styles with the 7th overall pick, an occurrence that most
mock draft pundits would have rated as a near-impossibility before the first night of the draft.
A lot of Commanders fans would have been equally satisfied (maybe a bit more or less) if the Commanders had drafted the versatile safety, Caleb Downs, who some pundits rated as the top player in the draft early in the early mocking days of January and February. In some ways, new Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker will attempt to achieve the same sorts of schematic goals by deploying Downs as a safety that Washington’s Daronte Jones is expected to aim for in deploying Sonny Styles at linebacker.
Caleb Downs is expected to be the versatile “chess piece” of the Dallas defense, likely stepping into a hybrid role that maximizes his elite instincts and range. Given his ability to play both as a deep-lying free safety and a box defender, the Cowboys’ scheme will likely use him to disguise coverages and provide a physical presence against the run. His addition allows the defense to remain multiple, frequently rotating him between centerfield duties and matching up one-on-one against athletic tight ends or slot receivers.
Styles is expected to serve as a versatile weapon in Daronte Jones’ aggressive scheme, which prioritizes versatility and pre-snap confusion, and giving Washington “endless possibilities” for defensive disguises. Leveraging his background as a safety and his 6-foot-5, 244-pound frame, the Commanders plan to use him as a “mugged up” linebacker who can threaten the A-gap to force protection shifts before either blitzing or dropping into coverage. His elite tackling efficiency—having missed only two tackles in his final college season—makes him a reliable anchor in the middle of the field, while his rare speed allows him to match up one-on-one against athletic tight ends and slot receivers.
The first of the three players drafted was Arvell Reese, who was perceived by analysts ahead of the draft as a hybrid linebacker and edge rusher. His positional value as a full-time, rotational, or part-time edge rusher may be the reason why he was the first of the three athletic defenders off the draft board, although the fact that he was available at 5th overall was perceived by most NFL analysts as rather shocking, as he was expected to be drafted earlier.
Despite the player’s perceived value as an edge rusher, head coach John Harbaugh said that the Giants intend to start him as an off-ball “WILL” (weak side) linebacker alongside veteran Tremaine Edmunds. This role should leverage his 4.46 speed to chase ball carriers sideline-to-sideline while allowing him to “mug up” in various gaps (A through D) to disguise pressure. In passing situations, the Giants may utilize his elite 6-foot-4, 243-pound frame as a hybrid weapon — a stand-up edge rusher to complement Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — or that may be in the team’s future plans. By using Reese to camouflage their defensive intent, New York could potentially expect to create a “perfect storm of chaos” for opposing quarterbacks.
