A converted wide receiver who found his home at safety for Ohio State, Lorenzo Styles Jr. joins the Saints as a fifth-round pick with rare speed for the position.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. began his college career as a wide receiver at Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State and switching to the defensive side of the ball, where he developed into a versatile safety and special-teams weapon. New Orleans selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a player whose father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., was a third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1995, and whose brother Sonny also played at Ohio State.
Path to the league
Styles started his career as a wide receiver for Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State, where he moved to defensive back. Over three seasons with the Buckeyes he played 34 games at safety and on special teams, recording 46 tackles and seven pass breakups. The Saints selected him with the No. 172 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Styles posted the fastest recorded 40-yard dash by a safety since at least 2003 at that year's pre-draft testing, underscoring the athletic traits that made him an intriguing developmental prospect. He also showed off his return ability for Ohio State, including a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against UCLA, giving him a dual role as both a safety and a special-teams contributor.
2025 season recap
In his 2025 season at Ohio State, Styles recorded 20 solo tackles and broke up two passes while allowing a 101.9 opposing passer rating in coverage, per PFF grading. He continued to serve as a core special-teams contributor for the Buckeyes before declaring for the draft, where the Saints took him in the fifth round.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Lorenzo Styles Jr.
- Eleven Warriors: New Orleans Saints select Ohio State DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. in Round 5 of 2026 NFL Draft
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Ohio State
- Hometown
- Pickerington, OH, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
