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The Athletic (paywall)
In Sonny Styles, Commanders get ‘everything you want’ in a football player
He told his family early Thursday that he was going to be a Washington Commander by day’s end and few really believed it would happen. His phone lit up around 8:40 p.m. with a “spam” warning, and it wasn’t until his agent assured him it wasn’t a risk that former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles received the news he long hoped to hear.
The Commanders selected Styles with the seventh pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday, giving their defense an immediate boost with one of this year’s most versatile and athletic prospects.
At 6-feet-5, with a 244-pound frame and near-81-inch wingspan, Styles has the coveted size and length for the position, combined with rare speed and athleticism. He can cover both tight ends and slot receivers, thanks in part to his two years at safety before converting to linebacker in 2024. He also developed into one of the draft’s most consistent tacklers, missing only two attempts last year for the Buckeyes.
Yet Styles’ greatest strengths may be the intangible parts of his game. He can quickly diagnose offenses and react accordingly, rarely appearing as a player with minimal experience at the position. He was also voted a team captain and given the prestigious “Block O” jersey last year, awarded annually at Ohio State to the player who exemplifies toughness, accountability and high character.
Commanders.com
5 things to know about LB Sonny Styles
He elevates a defense in need of playmakers.
The Commanders’ defensive struggles are well-known by now, so there’s no need to rehash those issues. It was clear that the team wanted to inject the unit with talent this offseason, and to their credit, they did that in free agency.
Washington put itself in position to add the best player available in the draft, and that ended up being Styles, even though Peters thought the chances of him getting to them were low. Peters said he’s been smiling since they drafted Styles, and it’s easy to see why. The linebacker is the same height as Calvin Johnson and had the same 40-yard dash time as Bijan Robinson as well as the same broad jump as Julio Jones all while being just eight pounds lighter than Derrick Henry.
Styles’ best trait, however, is that he might be the best playmaker in the draft. The Commanders were in serious need of that on defense, and Styles now joins a unit led by a coordinator in Daronte Jones who has a history of using creativity in his scheme.
Commanders Roundtable
Sonny Styles Had A Feeling He Would Become a Washington Commander
Former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles admitted after his name was called that he woke up to inform his family that he knew he was headed to the Washington Commander.
“It was a gut feeling. I think it was God. I think it was the people in the building. It was great people in the building, everyone. From head coach, GM all the way down to the player development – everyone. It’s a bunch of great people and I think I was drawn to that and it just felt like it was meant to be.”
The Commanders sent a large contingent of staffers out to Columbus for Ohio State’s Pro Day earlier this month given the Buckeyes produced three players who materialized into top seven picks while Caleb Downs went 11th overall to the Dallas Cowboys. Styles was also among the long list of top draft prospects to return to Washington for the top-30 visit ahead of the draft, giving the athletic linebacker a chance to connect with the full staff a closer feel for the organization. He left feeling like Washington was a realistic landing spot.
“I think you just come in the building it’s great people, great vibes. Come in the building, coach Norton, he’s bringing a bunch of juice, the linebacker coach, so everything just felt right all the way to Coach Jones, coach [Dan] Quinn, Mr. Peters. Every meeting just felt like it was it. And I left the building that day and I was like, ‘Man, I feel I’m gonna be Commander.’ So I’m excited to happen. It’s the perfect place to be.”
A to Z Sports
Commanders waste zero time locking up Sonny Styles in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
Styles has been compared to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and that makes it easy to see why this is a Peters pick. He obviously hails from the 49ers front office and knows just how valuable a player like Warner is in this day and age.
If Styles can even live up to 75% of Warner’s status, it’s a good pick And there’s plenty of reason to think he can do just that.
Look for Styles to be utilized in all kinds of ways. Again, he can do it all. He can blitz, cover, and defend the run. He’s the perfect kind of chess piece Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones needs for the new-look Commanders defense.
ESPN
2026 NFL live draft updates: Pros, cons for all Round 1 picks
Why they picked him: Styles offers terrific length, speed, leadership and versatility at linebacker. Styles ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and would give the Commanders the speed they have lacked at the position, pairing with Leo Chenal (4.53) to form a fast tandem alongside Frankie Luvu. Another potential starter, Jordan Magee (4.55) also offers speed and versatility. In new coordinator Daronte Jones’ defense, Styles would provide flexibility in coverage — at 6-foot-5, he covers ground — and they can use him as a blitzer, something Chenal can also do. Also, Styles missed only two tackles last season and is considered a strong on-field communicator and leader.
Biggest question: Does he keep ascending and can he impact the quarterback? Styles made a big leap in his second season at linebacker for Ohio State after transitioning from safety. The latter position has helped in some route recognitions, but he’ll also have to prove he can handle one-on-one coverage against backs or tight ends. Also, can he become an effective blitzer? OSU linebackers coach James Laurinaitis said they would have used him similarly to Arvell Reese this year — if they didn’t have Reese. In other words, yes they think he can blitz. — John Keim
Riggo’s Rag
Sonny Styles had better be worth passing on Caleb Downs
Both Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs were available when the Commanders picked, and they chose the former. No one will be disappointed with the choice to select the speedy linebacker, whose measurables are off the charts. But the All-American safety might be the best player in the draft.
It was already a questionable enough decision to pass on Downs, one that could leave Washington mired in regret for years to come. And then he went to the Dallas Cowboys four picks later.
Sonny Styles will be under immense pressure to prove the Commanders made the right decision
If Downs turns into the Pro Football Hall of Fame-level player many believe he will be, it’s going to be a tough pill for the Commanders to swallow. But as long as Styles lives up to his billing, the pain will be numbed at least a little bit. And he most certainly can.
Styles is an off-ball linebacker who will provide immediate help to a second level that consists of Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, and Leo Chenal. His athleticism gives him an exceptional ceiling at the NFL level, and his versatility should ensure he has a significant role in Washington from the get-go.
The decision to draft Styles represents the culmination of a shift in Washington’s defensive philosophy under new coordinator Daronte Jones. Speed is paramount, and the Commanders’ newest addition ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash during his historic showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Not many draft pundits expected Styles to drop to the Commanders, with many projecting him as a top-five pick. But the selections of Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 and Tate at No. 4 threw a wrench into those plans
Commanders’ new rookie linebacker Sonny Styles is just getting started
Styles is not settling. He was a college national champion, one of the most dominant linebackers to play for the Buckeyes in some time. But make no mistake; he is constantly pushing forward.
There is no telling how many improvements could arrive working with Washington’s coaching staff. Quinn’s development of some of the league’s most prolific linebackers throughout his glittering career needs no introduction. Styles is next in line, and he’ll be striving with everything he has to repay the Commanders’ faith.
Styles is an off-ball linebacker, but he’s also so much more.
His previous experience in the safety spot makes him a valuable asset in coverage. There is violence and an accomplished tackling technique coming downhill. Styles’s football IQ and leadership are absolutely off the charts, giving him a chance to earn the green dot as the on-field defensive play-caller sooner rather than later.
The Commanders are not betting on Styles’ previous accomplishments. They are betting on what he could become. And this looks like the perfect landing spot on a defense that looks set for major improvements under new coordinator Daronte Jones next season.
And the NFL is on notice.
ESPN
Kiper’s Round 1 winners, losers, value picks
The Commanders watched Love and a bunch of the top defenders come off the board before we got to No. 7. But they still landed the No. 4 prospect on my board in linebacker Sonny Styles, which is huge for a Washington defense that gave up 6.0 yards per play in 2025 (30th in the NFL). Styles is a former safety, and you can tell on the tape. He’s going to use that 4.46 speed to fly around the field and make plays on the ball.
[T]he real stunner came halfway through the first round, with the Rams taking Ty Simpson at No. 13. I can’t wrap my brain around that one.
I had Lemon to the Rams in my final mock draft, and the USC receiver was still on the board when L.A.’s pick came around. This team is in win-now mode as it tries to capitalize on a really good roster with 38-year-old Matthew Stafford playing on a year-to-year basis. I really thought the Rams would go get another playmaker for Stafford, or at least boost his protection with someone such as tackle Monroe Freeling. This is a Super Bowl-caliber team!
Instead, the Rams took Simpson, who I wasn’t positive would even go in Round 1, let alone this high. I did have Simpson in my final mock but not until late in the 20s. So this was a little surprising to say the least. There was talk that the Rams were interested in him at No. 29 before they traded that pick, but No. 13? Way, way too rich.
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
What LB Sonny Styles Brings to the Washington Commanders
At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, Styles is one of the most athletic linebacker prospects in NFL history. That sounds like hyperbole, but RAS, which takes combine measurements pre-draft and ranks prospects athletically based on those numbers rated Styles a 9.99 out of 10. For some perspective on just how athletic he is, out of the 3460 linebacker prospects from 1987 to 2026, RAS ranked Styles as the fourth best athlete.
But we’ve seen many excellent athletes enter the NFL and fail to make much of an impact. So how is Styles as an actual football player and what does he bring to the Commanders? That’s a long answer because there’s a lot he can do. Styles is an incredibly versatile player that can play a lot of different roles on defense. He entered college as a safety but due to his size, he transitioned to linebacker over the last two years. That means he has far more coverage upside than most linebacker prospects that enter the NFL.
The downside with many former safeties that convert to linebacker is that they typically struggle to deal with the physicality of the run game, but Styles is different. Styles is a physical and violent football player that is not afraid of getting into scraps with offensive lineman. He’s consistently able to take on blockers and shed them to make tackles.
Styles shows a repeated willingness to take on blockers and more importantly, a repeated ability to get off those blocks and make stops.
Styles has the consistent ability to take on blockers, stack them up and shed them as he works to the running back to make the tackle. That’s not something you typically see from a linebacker that converted from safety just a few years ago. That physicality sets him apart in that regard, but just because he’s more physical than most players that make that safety to linebacker transition doesn’t mean he lacks any of the range or athleticism to chase down backs either.
The important thing is that the traits are there. The physicality, the athleticism, the instincts, the block shedding, it’s all there. He will still develop and improve as he plays the linebacker position more and the ingredients are all there for him to be an excellent run defender at the NFL level for the next decade or more if he reaches his potential.
But there is more to the linebacker position than just run defense. What makes Styles such an exciting linebacker prospect is that his athleticism and history of playing safety gives him far more coverage ability than a typical linebacker prospect. He’s very comfortable dropping into coverage in a variety of different schemes and to a variety of different spots on the field.
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL Draft 2026 best available players for Washington Commanders
Barring any trades, Washington has five more picks in this draft, including one on Day 2: the 71st overall selection in the third round. The Commanders have room to add talent to nearly every position, which gives general manager Adam Peters the flexibility to choose the best player on the team’s board. Here are some names they could be considering.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Hurst is a tall (6-4) and long (79 7/8-inch wingspan) receiver with rare speed (4.42-second 40) for his size. He converted 70.9 percent of his catches into a first down or touchdown in college, and over his final two seasons at Georgia State, he totaled 34 catches of 20-plus yards.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Sarratt played only two seasons at Indiana, but had the third-most touchdown catches (23) in program history. At 6-3, 210 pounds, Sarratt knows how to use his size to his advantage. He dropped only 4.5 percent of his targets last year, and over his four-year career (he played at Saint Francis and James Madison before joining the Hoosiers), he amassed 44 receiving TDs.
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Another big and athletic receiver (6-5, 218) quarterbacks love because of his sure hands and broad catch radius. Fields converted 75 percent of his catches into first downs or touchdowns last year. In Washington, he would add size to the receiving corps, while giving Jayden Daniels another QB-friendly target.
Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
I have trouble seeing the Commanders using their lone third-round pick on a center, but if they’re going to draft one to compete with Nick Allegretti for the starting job, they may not find a viable candidate later in the draft. Hecht, a former walk-on who worked his way up as a guard, is a tough and smart center who allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits last year, and didn’t commit any penalties.
Podcasts & videos
Adam Peters Exclusive 2026 Draft Night Interview | Command Center | Washington Commanders | NFL
Sonny Styles First Interview as a Washington Commander | Command Center | NFL DRAFT
The Commanders Select Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State | John Keim Report
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys first round trades: Results from deals, Caleb Downs, and Malachi Lawrence picks
The Dallas Cowboys had a very busy first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Fireworks began when the team moved up one spot from number 12 overall, shout out Miami Dolphins, to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. It is still surreal that this is a real sentence.
While the excitement from that will take a while to fade, it had to be contained for a little bit as the Cowboys were up again at 20 overall… until they weren’t. Dallas traded again and this time moved down, amazingly with the Philadelphia Eagles.
As the dust from the first round is now settled we wanted to put in perspective everything that Dallas lost and everything that they received.
Dallas Cowboys Received:
- 11 overall (Caleb Downs)
- 23 overall (Malachi Lawrence)
- 114 overall (fourth-round pick)
- 137 overall (fourth-round pick)
Dallas Cowboys Lost:
- 12 overall (Kadyn Proctor went to the Dolphins)
- 20 overall (Makai Lemon went to the Eagles)
- 177 overall (fifth-round pick)
- 180 overall (fifth-round pick)
- 2027 seventh-round pick
Big Blue View
Malik Nabers questions Giants’ decision to draft Arvell Reese over Caleb Downs
The Giants top offensive threat was incredulous the team passed on Caleb Downs twice in the draft
Malik Nabers questioned the New York Giants passing on now Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs twice on Thursday night in Round 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft.
“I would rather get him then play against him…I’m just saying that Downs was there twice,” Nabers said on Bleacher Report’s live stream with Micah Parsons. “The reason why I said Caleb Downs…is because we just traded [Dexter Lawerence], you need you need interior D line— I understand getting outside backer he wants to rush OK—but when you eliminate something from there you, have to put something in the back end to be secure.”
The Giants wide receiver noted the time he played against Downs in college, the Alabama freshman was calling out the routes that the wide receivers were going to run before the play was snapped.
“We could have got the playmaker, we need another playmaker in the deep zone,” said Nabers. “We got [Javon] Holland don’t get me wrong but Downs plays inside, we could have him move down low, to blitz.
“We could put him out to cover we go against somebody who has a fast running back… When we need somebody to get [Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels].”
Nabers wondered aloud why the Giants would draft Reese when they selected Abdul Carter a year ago.
“Love the player, don’t get me wrong,” Nabers said. “But [where is he going to] play? He is going to want to be on the outside to rush but we just drafted somebody last year to do that same position.”
The wide receiver out of LSU noted that the Giants just paid right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and that will force Francis Mauigoa to play a different position then he did in college.
Big Blue View
‘Things I think’ after a surprising Round 1 of the NFL Draft for the NY Giants
The Giants feel like they “couldn’t do any better” than landing Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa. Will they be right?
As all NFL teams do in preparation for the NFL Draft, the Giants ran simulation after simulation after simulation, gaming out scenarios for how they thought the first round would play out with New York having the fifth and 10th overall picks.
Not many of them included getting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.
Mostly that is because the Giants didn’t think Reese, the No. 2 player on their board after quarterback Fernando Mendoza, would be available to them.
“Joe probably ran a zillion mocks,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “This one didn’t come up. This was not one that was really anticipated … this is exciting. This is not expected.”
“Arvell is a versatile player. We’re going to play him at inside linebacker, WILL linebacker,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “Our defense is pretty flexible, position-less you might call it … he’ll be in the A Gap, the B Gap, the C Gap, the D Gap, off the edge. He’ll be moving around with all of our guys … he’s an exciting player. We are fired up to have him.”
The Giants, per Harbaugh, also had Mauigoa ranked in their top five players.
What about Kayvon?
As soon as the Reese pick was made I thought about Thibodeaux’s future. The Giants quickly put the word out that they weren’t interested in trading him.
”We keep all the good players as much as we can,” Harbaugh said.
Oh, Malik
Nabers and others had free reign to say and do what they wanted unchecked during the Brian Daboll era. I suspect that Nabers, with Harbaugh in charge, is going to have to learn to be a little more careful about what he says and when he says it.
Bleeding Green Nation
Makai Lemon drafted by the Eagles reactions: More A.J. Brown trade confirmation
[The Eagles] made things pretty clear for fans on Thursday night, trading up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select WR Makai Lemon out of USC. If Brown was still in the plan for this upcoming season, it’s hard to imagine Howie Roseman and Co. using a first round pick on another wide receiver.
This pick will also help long term as the Eagles’ super young defense will need some big contracts over the next few seasons and a younger offense as result will be needed to balance things out.
Lemon is just the latest in a long list of new receivers heading to Philadelphia this offseason, but he’s someone who should compliment DeVonta Smith well, and should give some quality depth to the room — even if Brown doesn’t end up being traded after June 1.
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
Pittsburgh Draws Record 320,000 for NFL Draft First Round
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said just before the end of the first round that Pittsburgh drew 320,000 fans for the event’s first day—setting a new league record and moving well past the 205,000 for the initial round of last year’s draft in Green Bay, as well as the prior high-water mark of 275,000 set two years ago in Detroit.
Front Office Sports
NFL Draft’s Shorter Clock Delivers Faster, Tighter First Round
The NFL wanted a much crisper first round for the first round of its draft, and a rule change to promote that showed immediate success
The Super Bowl champion Seahawks made the 32nd and final pick of the first round at 11:05 p.m. ET—three hours and five minutes after the showcase started. That duration is a marked reduction from the first rounds in prior years, which required nearly four hours to complete. Last year’s final first-round pick happened at 11:43 p.m. ET
Despite the new eight-minute rule, many teams did not use the full amount of that time on Thursday. The league also succeeded in keeping intact many of its draft traditions—including player hugs with Goodell and on-air interviews—while keeping the clock moving toward the next pick.
Front Office Sports
NFL Draft Brings Flurry of Trades: Eight Deals Among 11 Teams
The Chiefs kicked off the NFL Draft night trading in Pittsburgh by moving up to the No. 6 pick to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brought eight trades Thursday night, as 11 teams added excitement and drama to the evening with moves up and down the first 32 picks.
There were five trades during the final seven picks of the first round (Nos. 26-32).
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL Draft roundtable: Titans surprise with Carnell Tate, Bucs stop Rueben Bain’s slide
Other than Ty Simpson, what was the biggest surprise?
Nguyen: Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. falling to the Buccaneers at pick No. 15 was surprising, but I think he’s in an excellent scheme. Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles is creative with his fronts, so Bain will move into different positions and do a lot of slanting when they blitz, which will alleviate some of the concerns about Bain’s short arms.
Pompei: The Titans were in position to make a significant defensive upgrade with either Ohio State edge Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles, but they chose Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate instead. Most believe Tate will be a high-level NFL player, and Tennessee needs someone to catch passes from Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 pick, but many thought Tate would be available later. The Titans very well could have been hoping for Jeremiyah Love, who was chosen one pick ahead of them. Tate was the next-best offensive weapon.
Which pick left you with more questions than answers?
Nguyen: I didn’t love the fit with the Eagles and USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Philadelphia is reportedly trading away A.J. Brown, and I thought GM Howie Roseman would replace him with another vertical receiver. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t throw to the intermediate middle of the field, where Lemon thrives.
Pompei: Choosing Arvell Reese at No. 5 was smart by the Giants because he was the highest-rated non-quarterback on their board. But the Giants have more edge talent than any team, with Reese joining Abdul Carter, last year’s No. 3 pick, along with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson could play them in waves and use Reese and Carter in varied roles, or the Giants could trade one of their rushers, with Thibodeaux being a rumored candidate. It’s going to be interesting to see how New York handles an abundance of talent at a position where most teams have a deficit.
Over the Cap
Valuing the 2026 Draft’s 1st Round Trades
Cowboys Select S Caleb Downs
Implied Cost: 701 points (The 93rd pick in the draft)
Implied Salary Lost: $7.92M/Year
The bright side for Dallas in this one is it could have been far worse had they gotten antsy and made an earlier trade. I know what everyone will say about the special qualities of Downs and he may be great, but if you are going to make this trade he has to be incredible, essentially the top safety in the NFL by year 2. It is just such an available position it is hard to justify selecting one this high let alone trading up to make the pick.
A steal for Miami who land a more premier position (the value is actually higher than shown since we value the trade down as “blind” and this wasn’t) and a reasonable chance for two contributors later in the draft. Similar to the Bills trade above, just because it isn’t as good as some past trades in a similar spot it was far better than just sitting pat because the deal wasn’t good enough.
Eagles Select WR Makai Lemon
Implied Cost: 1,036 points (The 48th pick in the draft)
Implied Salary Lost: $2.48M/Year
A pretty big premium paid by the Eagles who give up far more for a lower pick than the Cowboys gave up in their earlier trade. An implied cost of the 48th pick in the draft is a pretty big number, but this is one of those areas where the positional value does lessen the blow for the Eagles here. While Dallas comes up way behind in their trade because they choose a safety, the Eagles are pretty close in value. They don’t need Downs to be a superstar, they just need him to be a high level two or low level one to justify the trade. If he is anything more it is excess value for the Eagles. That makes the number here easier to take, you just wonder if they got too locked in on this one player.
This is a terrific trade for the Cowboys who increase their probability of finding at least one starter and if things go right could easily land two starters with their picks they acquire here.
