It hasn’t taken long for Washington Commanders rookie Sonny Styles to be compared to another linebacker taken in the first-round of the 2026 NFL draft by an NFC East club, Arvell Reese of the New York Giants, but the shocking verdict will surprise many about Styles.
The surprising comp comes from Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports. He confidently proclaims Styles, the seventh-overall pick, “will be a better two-level off-ball/edge than” former Ohio State teammate and No. 5 pick Reese.
If this reads like a bold claim, it’s because Reese is widely considered the most versatile and disruptive front-seven demon in this draft class. Yet, Farrar identified a subtle point about Styles many NFL teams might have missed, but the Commanders can exploit for huge returns.
It’s more than a good enough reason for Commanders general manager Adam Peters not to rise to being called out by a lockdown prospect who went off the board one pick earlier than Styles.
Sonny Styles Has Hidden Value
The Giants are already planning to use Reese in multiple spots, but the Commanders can take a similar approach with Styles. Thanks mostly to what Farrar aptly calls “a ton of under-utilized pass rush juice.”
Farrar explained how “on just 78 pass-rushing snaps in the 2024 season, Styles had six sacks and 19 pressures. And it took just 64 pass-rushing reps in the 2025 season for Styles to (get) two sacks and 15 pressures.”
It makes sense a 6-foot-5, 244-pounder would be comfortable putting heat on the pass-pocket. Styles has the frame to collapse the edge as a pass-rusher, but he’ll also be a nightmare for running backs trying to pick him up when he blitzes through the A-gaps either side of a center.
Styles can expect to be sent after quarterbacks a bunch as part of the elaborate blitz schemes of new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. The latter refined his playbook under the tutelage of elite player-caller Brian Flores, but as Farrar pointed out, Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn’s experience can also help Styles.
Specifically, Quinn’s work with All-Pro roving pressure specialist Micah Parsons for the Dallas Cowboys from 2021 to 2023. Parsons helped himself to 30.5 sacks rushing from both the linebacker level and defensive line on Quinn’s watch.
That ceiling might not be out of reach for Styles. Not when he’s joining a Washington linebacker corps already home to blitz weapons Frankie Luvu and underrated Leo Chenal, whose addition in free agency went under the radar, but he represents an excellent scheme fit for Jones.
A trio of Chenal, Luvu and Styles completes a necessary revamp of the Commanders’ front seven, but will it be enough to outpace Reese and the rapidly rebuilding Giants?
Arvell Reese, Giants a Threat to Commanders Rebound
The Giants are a credible threat to the Commanders and their attempts to rebound from last season’s 5-12 finish. Big Blue is also in full rebuild mode, but many of their moves have been more high-profile since hiring decorated former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
Landing Reese as something of a steal to close out the top five will only increase the hype around the Giants. He also gives them a matchup equalizer against dual-threat Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Keeping Daniels at full strength is still Washington’s best bet to be competitive again within the division. Yet, Daniels’ job will be easier if the Commanders’ own defense is stronger.
Styles will ensure improvement, but his potential blitzing brief can put him in direct confrontation with the other first-round pick for the Giants.
Commanders Pick Sonny Styles Gets Shock Arvell Reese Comparison