There is a long tradition of people giving draft picks a grade less than 24 hours after they’ve been made. Some of them are spot on after the players have shown who they are after a few years in the league, and some of them look pretty bad. A lot of graders get stuck on their personal rankings, and will tank a player’s selection because of that. How a player fits with a team, and their needs plays a big part here as well.
The Washington Commanders entered this year’s draft with six picks, and they
kicked it off at No. 7 by picking former Ohio State LB Sonny Styles. They had a lot of good options to choose from, but they were high on Styles, and GM Adam Peters said he didn’t expect him to be available when they got on the clock. They got some help from the Tennessee Titans who picked Styles former teammate Carnell Tate. The Chiefs traded in front of Washington to pick Mansoor Delane. The Commanders were locked into Styles though, and they got the player they envision as a leader who can help transform the defense under new coordinator Daronte Jones.
The NFL draft grading cabal agrees that this was a great pick for the Commanders, and the fit will be perfect in Washington. There were several A+’s and the lowest grade was a B which is pretty damn good. None of this matters until he gets on the field and plays up to his potential, but for now, the Commanders get high marks for Sonny Styles!
Washington Commanders 2026 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1 – #7 – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Round 3 – #71
Round 5 – #147
Round 6 – #187
Round 6 (via SF) – #209
Round 7 – #223
The Ringer(A+)
In a division where the Commanders have to face-off against dynamic quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Jaxson Dart, it will help to have a rangy linebacker like Styles to chase them down. This is a great pick for Washington, which lands one of the most athletic defenders the draft has ever seen. Styles is an instinctive linebacker with top-tier tackling skills, and he offers some untapped upside as a situational pass rusher as well. He can be the type of player the Commanders can build their defense round.
Yahoo Sports (A+)
Another A+ Buckeye pick here. The Commanders desperately needed to upgrade their back seven on defense and got a potential unicorn at linebacker with Styles. He has the range, size and physicality that Dan Quinn looks for in middle linebackers and will be a massive upgrade over the play that Bobby Wagner gave them last year.
New York Post(A+)
An instant alpha leader, Styles could’ve gone as high as No. 4. Word is he was head coach Dan Quinn’s coveted target, but how did he slip this far? The former safety put together one of the combine’s best all-time performances.
The Tennessean (A+)
Six teams may come to regret passing on Styles, who has All-Pro potential as an off-ball linebacker. He can play in space, both in coverage and as a tackler. He’ll only grow as a play processor, and it’s already at a level to justify a top-10 selection. Many have commented over the draft process that Styles would have to be an elite linebacker to be a good value pick in the top 10. Spoiler: He will be.
The Athletic (A)
Styles (6-5, 244) began his career as a safety, then shifted to linebacker, where he started 42 games over three seasons (including all 16 during the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship season). A first-team All-American last year, Styles put up a career 244 tackles, plus 22.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and nine passes defensed.
CBS Sports(A)
One of the least athletic front-sevens in the NFL a season ago completes their makeover with one of the most athletic linebackers in draft history. His ability to cover ground in coverage at his size is nothing short of special. He’ll allow Dan Quinn so much flexibility on the defensive side of the ball.
SB Nation (A)
An off-ball linebacker with a background as a safety might not seem like a need, but the Commanders needed some help with their front seven, and they get that with the super athletic Styles. He is one of the most athletic linebacker prospects we have ever seen, which will make him an asset on passing downs and give Dan Quinn’s defense some schematic flexibility.
Fox Sports(A)
Both in Seattle and most recently in Washington, Dan Quinn was blessed to have future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker. Remarkably, Quinn will now have an even better athlete in the middle of his Commanders defense in Styles. There are only a few linebackers in NFL history with Styles’ combination of size and speed — Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher comes to mind. Washington needed to find an alpha on defense and Styles should prove to be that immediately.
Athlon Sports(A)
What a massive win for the Commanders, who land a new cornerstone for the next generation of their defense under Dan Quinn. This unit needs more playmakers at every level, and after adding multiple edge rushers in free agency, they’re freed up to land easily the best off-ball linebacker in this year’s draft. Styles is a big, athletic defender with the versatility to make big plays against both the run and pass, and he’s dangerous as an extra rusher in blitz packages. He brings a ton of intelligence and valuable leadership qualities to the table, too. The No. 3 overall player on my board, Styles is a steal here, regardless of perceived positional value.
Sporting News(A)
The top talent is coming off the board well early and it made sense for the Commanders to go best defensive player available, easy with Bailey, Reese and Delane off the board. Styles will find a spot in Dan Quinn’s second level, a major upgrade as a run defender and cover man over Frankie Luvu. Styles also is the ideal lateral and downfield complement to Leo Chenal, the former Chief signed for his upfield production.
Bleacher Report (A)
The Washington Commanders found the perfect piece to balance their defense. Entering the draft, the team had previously invested in Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal to be their off-ball linebackers. They’re both aggressive and physical. However, they’re both much better playing downhill and definitely not as effective dropping into space.
Whereas, Styles is a safety-convert whose athleticism and movement skills are truly special. He can be an ideal complement and eventual leader among this group, thanks to his previous experience wearing the green dot as part of Ohio State’s loaded defense.
Styles is such a special athlete that he made people forget that he plays a non-premium position rarely viewed as a top-10 possibility. In fact, only three off-ball linebackers have been chosen that highly over the last 10 years, with only Devin White cracking the top five.
The first-team All-American wore No. 0 at Ohio State for representing “t oughness, accountability and the highest of character, inspired by the great Bill Willis.” Styles also posted a perfect 10 as the highest relative athletic score among linebackers over the last 29 years, according to Kent Lee Platte.
Scouting Report Highlights
Strengths: Elite athleticism with previous safety experience, huge frame and excellent length, physical run-defender, excellent tackler, NFL bloodlines
Weaknesses: Tends to be overaggressive reading run keys, can still add play-strength as he continues to mature physically
Clutch Points (A)
The Commanders didn’t get fancy or reach for a piece to help Jayden Daniels. They simply picked the best player available, despite off-ball linebacker not being a premium position. Sonny Styles is not any LB, though. He is a converted safety who has the size, skills, and athleticism that fit perfectly in the modern NFL.
Washington had to get younger and more athletic on defense, and drafting Styles here did exactly that.
The Score(A)
I love this fit for Washington. Styles is one of the most athletic linebacker prospects we’ve ever seen. After blowing up the combine with a 4.46 40 and absurd jump scores, there was talk that he’d be gone well before this point. Instead, the Commanders sit back and have a potential superstar fall into their lap. Styles’ background as a safety shows up with his unique ability in coverage. The range in all phases of the defensive game should make him a game-changer in the middle of Dan Quinn’s defense.
Walter Football (A)
Sonny Styles doesn’t provide positional value, but that’s out the window in this lackluster draft class. The Redskins are getting the best player on the board who fills a huge need for them. They should be able to cover the middle of the field for once, and Styles will be very useful against the Eagles’ offense.
Cleveland.com (A)
Styles became the third Buckeye to come off the board in the first seven picks, and he goes to a Commanders team in desperate need of defensive help. He is a true three-down linebacker with amazing athleticism, and he should be an impact player in Washington very quickly.
Prize Picks (A)
The first round of the draft unfolded perfectly for the Washington Commanders. Sonny Styles fell right into their lap at No. 7 overall as the best linebacker — and perhaps the best athlete — of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Washington let LB Bobby Wagner walk in free agency and found a direct replacement in Styles, who brings excellent versatility at 6’5” and 244 pounds.
Hogs Haven (A)
Pro Football Network (A)
SB Nation (A-)
The #4 overall player on my board, Styles fills a huge need for Washington and gives them MUCH-needed leadership in the middle of their defense. They needed speed in the worst way defensively, and now they’ve got in an area of the field where they were among the slowest teams in football last season.
Sports Illustrated(B+)
After converting from safety to linebacker before the 2024 season, Styles became one of the best second-level defenders in the country. Over the past two years, Styles has amassed 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks while showing tremendous versatility in coverage and against the run. At 244 pounds, Styles ran a blazing 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine, showing his elite athleticism.
How he fits with the Commanders: Styles gives defensive-minded coach Dan Quinn his man in the middle with Bobby Wagner still a free agent. Either way, Styles is the future behind a defensive line that now includes a $100 million man in Odafe Oweh and star defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne.
USA Today(B+)
Adam Peters continues to give Dan Quinn and new coordinator Daronte Jones some major assets to overhaul the defense. Styles is not only hyperathletic but incredibly savvy and capable of cleaning up everything in front of him. Caleb Downs could have been a consideration here, but Styles can offer plenty as someone who can take control of the second level of this unit. With no second-round pick, however, Washington might have trouble finding a difference-maker at receiver or in the secondary later on in the draft.
NFL.com(B)
Styles’ elite performance at the NFL Scouting Combine boosted his stock to the top of the first round. The Commanders were looking for an inside linebacker able to take over for future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner as a playmaker and leader. Pass rusher Reuben Bain Jr. was still available at this spot, and it’s arguable whether Styles is a better prospect than former Ohio State teammate and safety Caleb Downs.
For the Win(B)
The Commanders could have targeted Delane, but instead got sniped by the Chiefs. No matter, they can snag another top defensive prospect at his position in Styles. The off-ball linebacker is one of the most athletic prospects to ever come out of the combine and can bring immediate sideline-to-sideline coverage to the league’s 31st-ranked defense. That’s important, but it also doesn’t help Jayden Daniels recover from an injury-marred sophomore swoon.
Washington invested a major asset in an important, but undervalued position. Styles can be a rising tide for a moribund Commanders defense. He’s going to have to be to justify his draft slot.
Underdog NFL (B)
Pro Football Focus(Very Good)
Styles had an excellent season at Ohio State, earning 85.0-plus grades as both a run defender and coverage defender, and then he tested the way he did at the combine. The positional value argument will come up with Styles, but he has the potential to quickly become one of the better players at the position in the NFL. It’s a much-needed infusion of talent for a Commanders defense that ranked 31st in EPA allowed per play last season.
ESPN (Kiper)
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.
