The Washington Commanders have drafted Ohio State inside linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Styles had dropped in many mock drafts, but the Commanders leapt at taking the 6-foot-5, 244-pound All-American.
“The Commanders are selecting Ohio State LB Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pic,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirove wrote on his official X account. “A massive addition to Dan Quinn’s defense — and a dream come true for him to fall to No. 7.”
“The fourth-ranked player on PFF’s big board falling to 12th overall would be quite a surprise, but we have seen elite front-seven combine performers fall in drafts before,” PFF’s Daire Carragher wrote. “It is also worth noting that many evaluators do not classify linebacker as a premium position. You can trust Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to stop the slide and claim the headlines. Beyond his physical attributes, Styles excelled at getting ball carriers to the ground this past season. He led the team in PFF tackling grade (91.6) and recorded just two missed tackles on 90 total attempts.”
Styles Wowed Scouts at NFL Scouting Combine
In front of all of the NFL’s most important decision makers at the NFL scouting combine in February, Styles not only ran the 40-yard in a blazing, 4.46 seconds and broad jumped 11-feet, 2 inches, he registered a mind-melting 43.5-inch vertical leap — the best anyone at his position has jumped in over 20 years.
“To put Styles’ vertical jump into context, it was better than Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who at 6-5, 239 pounds, had a 42½-inch vertical jump at the 2007 combine,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote. “Styles’ jump was also better than current Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, whose 43-inch jump was the best at the 2025 combine.”
Popular Pick to Commanders in Mock Drafts
Styles was a popular pick to the Commanders in mock drafts. He was projected as the No. 7 overall pick to the Washington Commanders in the 2nd mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
He was the 3rd Ohio State player taken in the first 7 picks after wide receiver Carnell Tate went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall and edge rusher Arvell Reese went to the New York Giants at No. 5 overall.
Styles, a 2-time All-Big Ten pick and All-American in 2025, had 182 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks and 8 pass deflections over the last 2 seasons. He’s also the son of former NFL cornerback Lorenzo Styles, who played 6 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams following the 1999 season.
New York Jets offensive tackle Armand Membou, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, received a 4-year, $31.9 million rookie contract.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein made the loftiest of comparisons for Styles in his pre-draft evaluation — no less than San Francisco 49ers NFL All-Pro Fred Warner.
Warner is also the NFL’s highest paid inside linebacker with a 3-year, $63 million contract extension signed in May 2025.
“The former Buckeye diffuses block attempts with crisp hand strikes and leverages run fits with force/anchor strength,” Zierlein wrote. ” … He can make an impact from multiple spots on the field and is a plus man-cover talent. Styles is an emerging player with the traits and versatility to garner longer looks by NFL evaluators. He could see his stock soar leading up to draft day.”
Commanders Draft Ohio State Linebacker Sonny Styles With No. 7 Overall Pick