Editor’s note: Everyone’s excited about the Commanders’ NFL Draft haul. Rightfully so. That doesn’t mean each selection will slot into a prominent role as a rookie. We’ll discuss realistic expectations for each player over the next few days, leading into Commanders rookie minicamp. We’ll get started, naturally, with a certain off-the-ball linebacker from Ohio State:
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Selection:
No. 7 overallHeight/Weight: 6-foot-5/244 pounds
What Adam Peters said: “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, all those different things. 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.”
Prominent members of the position group*: Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Kain Medrano
*Note: Taken from Mark Tyler’s way-too-early 53-man depth chart
Perfect-world expectations: That Styles plays all three downs, all season long and is 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.
Real-world expectations: There’s little doubt in Styles’ ability to play quality NFL football, but those endeavors often take time, even for top picks. That’s especially true for a converted safety with just two years at his new position, which requires fast processing and high football IQ. Growing pains are fair and understandable, especially when NFL offensive coordinators start putting him in binds while forcing him to make difficult decisions.
A solid stat line remains a fair expectation, as is his position in the starting lineup. There are enough quality linebackers with different styles to use Styles as a roving chess piece as Peters suggested above. Styles should have a solid rookie season, even though his best will be yet to come.
What would you consider realistic expectations for Sonny Styles in his rookie year? Let us know in the comments below.
