It did not take long for the first player from Ohio State’s defense, which ranked first in fewest yards and points allowed last season, to be selected, nor did it take long for his teammates to follow him into the NFL.

Edge rusher Arvell Reese was selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Giants, and linebacker Sonny Styles went to the Washington Commanders two picks later. Safety Caleb Downs was selected by the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 11 after Dallas traded up for him.

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Reese was one of the biggest risers in the NFL Draft. After showing flashes as a sophomore, Reese broke out his junior year under Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Reese put himself on the draft radar after nine tackles and a sack in the Buckeyes’ 14-7 win against Texas in Week 1. Reese finished the season with 69 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups, and was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten’s Linebacker of the Year and a finalist for the Butkus Award.

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Reese said at the NFL scouting combine that he considers himself an edge and outside linebacker, more of an off-the-ball linebacker. No matter what position he plays with the Giants, his speed and power jump off the page.

His Ohio State teammate Styles did not wait long to hear his name called either. Styles led Ohio State with 83 tackles, then had an even stronger combine. He had a 43.5-inch vertical and a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches. His vertical reportedly was only 1.5 inches off the all-time combine record, and he was reportedly the only person over 240 pounds to clear 43 feet since 2003. His broad jump reportedly ranks fourth among linebackers at the combine since 1999.

Styles’ 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash was tied for the day’s best with Reese. To put that in perspective, Styles posted the same time as Falcons running back Bijan Robinson despite being bigger. Styles’ estimated athletic score of 92 on Thursday ranked first among all linebackers.

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Under head coach Dan Quinn in Washington, Styles projects to be a Bobby Wagner type in the middle of the defense. Quinn has coached Wagner both in Seattle and Washington.

Downs, meanwhile, might be the best overall player in the draft, and the Cowboys trading up for him might indicate how happy they were he was still on the board.

Downs has all the skills and smarts to immediately be one of the better safeties in the league from Day 1 with upside to be an elite, premier player in the NFL. He was used at Ohio State as a middle pole runner on Cover 2, on the line of scrimmage as a blitzer and as a box defender.

Ignore the position label. Downs is a needle-moving defender who is constantly around the football.