The Washington Commanders drafted Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the intention of making him the centerpiece of their entire defense. With the No. 7 pick, general manager Adam Peters thought enough of Styles to make the pick. Scott Bair from Hogs Haven examines the expectations that Styles could face in Washington.
“Styles plays all three downs all season long and could be a serious defensive rookie of the year contender. The individual stats are way up; coverage on the interior is lock-down—especially against tight ends and running backs—and his freakish athleticism translates to consistently quality play.”
Granted, Styles enters Daronte Jones’ new scheme. Up front, the Commanders added edge rushers and linebackers that bring a high athletic pedigree to the field. Styles tested extremely well. More importantly, the film backs up Peters’ hope. The general manager broke down what he sees in the rookie.
Here’s my draft profile of Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
-Physical run defender
-Coverage instincts
-Outstanding athleticismFull breakdown: https://t.co/i5G18zvR5B pic.twitter.com/JB0vGbWnA4
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) April 6, 2026
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“Sonny’s a guy who can play off the ball. He can play on the ball. He can mug up and blitz. There are so many different things he can do. He could play MIKE, play WILL, play SAM, and all those different things.”
A three-down linebacker in the NFL continues to become a rarity with each passing year. On top of that, with the move towards amoeba-like defenses, Styles easily becomes the player who can handle every duty that a linebacker should handle, as Peters explains.
I keep seeing Sonny Styles receive the LAZY comparison to Isaiah Simmons
Please find me some tape of Clemson Isaiah Simmons playing in the box even half as well as this… pic.twitter.com/uEJ1ScdrOf
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 24, 2026
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“He’s got the size to play on the edge. He’s really versatile. And so, we can kind of mix and match and deploy those guys and play as many linebackers as we can on the field.”
With edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’ Lavon Chaisson: Mixing in a third rusher forces panicked decisions. First, where will the protection slide, especially if Styles delays on the rush? Next, with three defensive linemen and three stand-up rushers, which players come free? Additionally, with five blockers for six rushers, in which direction can the quarterback go?
GettyCommanders linebacker Sonny Styles, as he undertook drills at teh 2026 NFL Combine.
Sonny Styles was Logan Paulsen’s second-rated non-quarterback. He believes Styles was the best pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. #NFLDraft #Football #NFL #Draft #Commanders pic.twitter.com/1HLAjoqjnE
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 27, 2026
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Styles’ Potential and Traits Could Bench Luvu
As mentioned, the Commanders added talent in the defensive front that extends to linebackers. That includes Leo Chenal, acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs. Like Styles, Chenal is a three-down linebacker that doesn’t need to leave the field. As a result, Frankie Luvu has played no fewer than 90% of his team’s snaps.
Luvu’s 2025 season opens the door to the bench. For example, he missed 18 tackles last year, many of which led to first downs or makeable third downs. Then, he allowed opponents to complete 82.5% of the passes thrown in his direction.
Basically, the drafting makes Luvu expendable, while strengthening the defense. Before his conversion to linebacker, Styles played safety for his first two seasons in Columbus. Under those circumstances, his coverage skills are far superior to Luvu’s, bolstering a defense that mightily struggled against the pass.
It’s well-documented that Sonny Styles is a physical freak, but it’s still impressive to see it in real-time.@MarkBullockNFL and I discuss Styles’ understanding of the defense, his ability to drop in coverage, and his closing speed.
This pass break-up is nuts. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/72MJMTA1nC
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) April 24, 2026
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Superstar or Star Player?
In a perfect world, triple-digit tackle numbers, one interception, and a forced fumble look reasonable. However, the Coimmanders need the Bobby Wagner minimum. Meaning, those stats are the baseline. Yet, what can Styles offer the Commanders that Wagner didn’t? If his splash plays lead to bigger plays, jettisoning Wagner worked.
Commanders Expect Sonny Styles’ “Freakish Athleticism” to Immediately Translate to NFL