Washington fans are happy with the newest Commander
Like those of most NFL teams, Commanders fans are enthusiastic about the team’s 1st round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Washington picked former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles — literally the most athletic player at his position in the past 40 years, based on results from Combine and Pro Day testing.
Fans and analysts had spent months dissecting the college prospects who were likely to be drafted in the top-10, and Styles was among a group of up to a dozen players that were frequently identified
as desirable draft targets for the Commanders.
In recent weeks, most commentators seemed to think that Styles would not be available by the time the Commanders picked at 7th overall, a sentiment that GM Adam Peters voiced at his press conference on Thursday night. Peters told reporters he “didn’t think [Styles] would be available” at No. 7 and that he (Peters) was “smiling ear to ear” when the linebacker was there for the taking, making the decision easy.
In fact, the decision to select Styles over his Ohio State teammate, Caleb Downs, would not have been as clear cut in the eyes of many fans and other observers. With Downs ending up as a Dallas Cowboy just minutes later, the two now-division rivals (Styles and Downs) will likely draw comparisons for years to come.
Still, just like Adam Peters, who could not stop smiling, Commanders fans were smiling on Thursday night as well, and it seems likely that Sonny Styles will keep giving us reasons to smile for a long time to come.
Commanders fans approve
Immediately after the pick was made on Thursday night, Hogs Haven published a survey to gauge the reaction of members to the selection of Styles by Adam Peters.
Around 97% of respondents gave a grade of “A” or “B”, with 85% opting for the highest grade. This indicates a fan base that immediately embraced the selection of the young linebacker.
While I don’t really know what was on the minds of the 1% who opted for a failing grade, the sliver of respondents who gave the pick a grade of “C” probably shared some misgivings with the 12% of fans who limited their enthusiasm to a grade of “B”. Those fans who were not ready to give the highest grade to the selection of Styles probably fell in to one (or more) of three groups:
Positional value
Draft analysts who focus on the value of each draft pick — especially when it comes to salary cap advantage to be gained by drafting specific positions — may have felt that, while Styles is a top-tier player, linebacker is not a high-value position. These fans may have preferred that the team draft a wide receiver, cornerback or edge rusher.
Offensive help needed
Another group may have preferred that the Commanders use the #7 pick to add a playmaker to the offense in order to help 3rd year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
- If Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love had been available when the Commanders were on the clock, he might have fit the bill, but he was taken by the Cardinals with the 3rd overall pick.
- The wide receiver most commonly mocked to the Commanders, Carnell Tate, was drafted by the Titans with the next pick (No. 4).
- The next receiver selected was Jordyn Tyson, drafted by the Saints at 8th overall, immediately after the Commanders picked Styles. While Tyson is an undoubtedly talented player, his injury history made many draft analysts nervous, and with the injury issues that plagued the Commanders in 2025, many Washington fans were gun-shy of adding Tyson to the roster.
Three more wide receivers and a running back were drafted before the first round ended, as were 8 offensive linemen.
Better player available
Some fans simply weren’t sold on the idea that Sonny Styles was the best player available. The most frequently discussed option immediately after the first round ended was Caleb Downs, Styles’ college teammate who ended up being drafted 12th overall by the Cowboys. There were some analysts who had Downs rated as the best player in the draft, and I get the sense that many (and maybe most) Washington fans would have been just as happy if the team had drafted Downs instead of Styles. Other players that fans may have been focused on (who were available when Styles was picked) include DE Rueben Bain and WR Makai Lemon, both of whom were selected by teams in the first 20 picks of the draft. Like Downs, Makai Lemon ended up in the NFC East, having been drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sonny Styles will be an impact player for the Commanders
All that said, there is no question that Styles will help uplift the Commanders defense immediately, and that the overwhelming majority of respondents in our survey are focused on his massive upside — both in terms of his immediate contribution and long-term potential. Outside of, perhaps, Bobby Wagner in 2024, the Commanders have struggled at the linebacker position since the retirement of London Fletcher, whose last really good season was 2012. Styles, in conjunction with veteran linebackers Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu and 3rd year player Jordan Magee, offer the promise of a new era in Washington linebacker play.
Many times this offseason, GM Adam Peters has said that his goal for 2026 was to get younger and faster, especially on defense. The selection of the 21-year-old Styles matches both of those stated goals.
- Sonny Styles wore the green dot at Ohio State (meaning that he was in charge of the communication, acting as the ‘quarterback of the defense’), and will likely do the same in Washington.
- As a converted former-safety, Styles has skills in pass coverage.
- His sideline-to-sideline speed and aggression will be a welcome addition to similar traits brought by 2026 free agent linebacker Leo Chenal; together, Chenal, Styles and Jordan Magee will offer a highly athletic LB group.
- The group should also fit well with the aggressive scheme expected to be implemented by new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Styles, along with Chenal and veteran Frankie Luvu, should offer the versatility needed to play both on and off the ball, to blitz, and to cover backs and tight ends.
Styles, who is athletic, aggressive and intelligent, should step in as an immediate starter on the re-tooled Commanders defense, and continue to fill the role of a cornerstone player for many years to come.
Round 1 paid off massively with a cornerstone player who can help lead the Washington defense for a decade. Now, it’s a long wait on Friday night until Washington’s only pick of the night at #71 overall, early in the 3rd round. Hopefully, when that pick is made, it will be more good news for Commanders fans and another strong addition to the Washington roster.
