NFL combine notebook: Key takeaways from Day 1

Follow along all week as Dan Wilkins, theScore's senior NFL writer, breaks down everything you need to know from each day of on-field workouts at this year's scouting combine.

Day 1

Prospect takeaways

Sonny steals the show

Modern takes on position value suggest that teams shouldn't select off-ball linebackers in the top 10. In most cases, they're probably correct. But there are exceptions to every rule, and it sure seems like we've got another for this one.

A key component of Ohio State's top-ranked defense, Sonny Styles was already widely considered an early first-round talent before arriving in Indianapolis this week. His draft stock should soar to even greater heights after blending his tape and production with one of the most impressive combine performances we'll ever see.

Styles is a bit of a throwback linebacker in terms of measurables, checking in at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds. The speed scores (4.46 40, 1.56 10-yard split) are outstanding for his size, and he's evidently a rare athlete in terms of explosiveness as well. Styles set a combine record for his position with a 43.5-inch vertical jump and tied for fourth all time with an 11-foot-2 broad jump. The jaw-dropping initial numbers have him threatening to post a perfect Relative Athletic Score and the single best profile among all 3,215 linebackers since 1987.

In a draft class short on consensus top talents at premium positions, there's a real case to be made for Styles as a top-five pick. At the very least, he should be the first off-ball linebacker selected in the top 10 since 2020. And when that happens, there shouldn't be a single gripe about perceived value. Draft the unicorns.

Reese dazzles too

Arvell Reese has made it clear that he sees himself as an edge defender, which complicates the conversation around his draft stock to some extent. For one, the Ohio State star hadn't played there until splitting time between that spot and off-ball linebacker in 2025. And at 241 pounds, he doesn't exactly have the prototypical frame for a full-time role on the edge.

Reese has plenty of power for his size, though, and he's still only 20 years old. It's entirely possible that he's still growing into his frame. Plus, after matching his Ohio State teammate with a 4.46 40, he undoubtedly has the athleticism that teams are looking for in premier pass-rushers. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if teams see Reese as a onetime linebacker who, like Micah Parsons, can be developed into a superstar on the edge.

There will be coaching staffs willing to put him in that spot from Day 1. Some might prefer him off the ball, and others may want to employ him in some sort of hybrid role. Either way, Reese's 40 run should all but solidify his status as yet another top-five talent coming out of Columbus. You really can't help but wonder how the Buckeyes don't win the national title every year.

An outlier superstar?

Rueben Bain Jr. will save his athletic testing for Miami's pro day, but the highly touted pass-rusher still generated plenty of discussion during Thursday's on-field workouts. He measured in with 30 7/8-inch arms, putting him in the first percentile among all edge rushers in combine history.

Length is a critical factor for players in the trenches, as an advantage in that regard can help them get into an opponent's chest and control the rep. But a lack thereof doesn't necessarily have to be a disqualifier. Bain's frame certainly didn't create any issues at Miami, and he was an unblockable force against top competition throughout the College Football Playoff. The outlier measurements shouldn't do much to impact the draft stock of a player who does so well to compensate with power and technique. Bain will remain firmly in the mix to be the first non-quarterback off the board.

Banks still climbing

Caleb Banks' draft process is off to an excellent start. The Florida product seemed like a bit of a wild card coming off a season in which a foot injury forced him to miss all but three games. But a dominant Senior Bowl offered a reminder of his unique blend of power and quickness for a player of his size. And there should be no questions about his athleticism holding up in the pro game after an impressive showing at the combine.

Banks running well and posting some elite jump scores at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds tentatively gives him the 34th-best Relative Athletic Score among interior defensive linemen since 1987. The inevitable Chris Jones comparisons are probably a little rich for any incoming rookie, but there's a reason you might hear that one throughout this draft process. Banks could be a game-changer at the next level, and his combine performance may well lock him in as a top-15 pick.

Halton stock up

Gracen Halton made some money during Thursday's workouts. The Oklahoma defensive tackle turned heads with a 4.82 40-yard dash and a 36.5-inch vertical jump. The latter is the third-best score for any player at the position in combine history.

Halton is on the smaller side for an interior lineman, weighing in at 293 pounds, so his athletic profile doesn't quite match Banks' after adjusting for size. But this kind of explosiveness gives him a real chance to translate his disruptive traits to the next level. Halton will be one to watch in the middle rounds.

League news

Sweat-Johnson trade

While this week is largely about getting an up close look at the rookie class, league executives and agents converging in Indianapolis also typically represents an unofficial start to other roster-related business matters. Sure enough, the Jets and Titans reached an agreement on the first big trade of the offseason Thursday.

The rare player-for-player swap will reportedly send former Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee in exchange for third-year nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat. It's a fascinating move that, most notably, reunites Robert Saleh with one of his former first-round picks to kick off his second head coaching opportunity.

Johnson is the more accomplished player at this point, and he provides far more value as a pass-rusher. But that doesn't necessarily make Tennessee a clear winner in this deal. For a rebuilding team that probably had no plans of extending Johnson amid an exploding edge rush market, the Jets flipping him for the last two years of Sweat's rookie contract is a savvy move. The 2024 second-rounder, who tips the scales at 6-foot-4, 366 pounds, really began to tap into his potential as a dominant run defender last season. Sweat will be an important foundational piece in the middle of Aaron Glenn's defense, and it now seems certain that New York will spend the No. 2 pick on an edge rusher to replace Johnson. Jets fans should start to get familiar with Bain, Reese, and David Bailey.

A fresh start for Richardson?

Anthony Richardson's time with the Colts appears to be nearing its end, as the two sides have reportedly agreed to seek a trade. There's really no way to sugarcoat this one - having to move on from the former No. 4 overall pick after 15 starts across three seasons is a colossal failure for all involved. Richardson was supposed to be the future in Indy. After some early flashes, he simply never took meaningful steps to inspire confidence in that notion.

The disappointment will be more than enough to have people throwing around the bust label. Perhaps that proves appropriate in time. At risk of once again exposing myself as a Richardson truther, though, it's important to note that we're talking about a unfathomably gifted player who's still only 23 years old. Considering Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Daniel Jones have recently made the football world appear foolish for writing them off, shouldn't teams be lining up to see if they can help Richardson follow a similar path in a new environment?

Assuming the Colts don't intentionally drag this out, I can't imagine it'll take long to find a trade partner. The Vikings will be looking to add competition for J.J. McCarthy. And while they may lean toward a more reliable veteran, Richardson sure seems to have a believer in Kevin O'Connell. Keep an eye on the Rams too. Sean McVay will need to have a succession plan in place for Matthew Stafford. If a year of development can help Richardson get on track as a passer, perhaps the Rams head coach sees his rushing ability as a way to further evolve his offense.

Is it a safe bet? Of course not. But there's still more than enough upside that plenty of teams should be willing to taking a swing. Looking back at Trey Lance's departure from San Francisco for comparison, Richardson probably won't command much more than a fourth-round pick.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.