Sonny Styles - Commanders LB
There are enormous expectations on rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. The Washington Commanders didn't hesitate to take him at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft when he somehow slipped into their grasp, and the statement made from the moment he got into the building has been nothing short of outstanding.
Styles has everything. He's got the look, he's got the athleticism, and he's got the purposeful mindset typically associated with all great NFL linebackers. This is the perfect fit for Washington's new defense under Daronte Jones, and the versatility he brings to the table might be his most impressive gift above everything else.
The explosiveness, speed off the snap, and ability to read the game defy his tender years. Styles has been working hard in readiness for the moment, and he's already taken it upon himself to lead from the front. For a defense crying out for inspiration, the Ohio State product's presence could be a game-changer.
Chig Okonkwo - Commanders TE
The Commanders thought a lot of Chig Okonkwo. With veteran tight end Zach Ertz out of the equation after two superb seasons in Washington, this was the perfect time to add a fresher, more dynamic option for quarterback Jayden Daniels to depend upon in the passing game.
Okonkwo signed a three-year, $27 million deal with a $7 million signing bonus and $16.7 million guaranteed. He's eager for the chance to showcase what he can truly do, and his first offseason in Washington so far has been littered with examples of what he can bring to the Commanders' offense under David Blough.
There are concerns around the wide receiver options behind Terry McLaurin. But in Okonkwo, the Commanders now have a tight end who can create separation quickly, exploit mismatches across the line of scrimmage, and make things happen with the football in his hands.
And if this carries into the regular season, this will become one of the offseason's biggest signings.
Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL
Nobody needs to tell Javon Kinlaw that things did not go well during his first season in Washington. The formidable defensive lineman was immediately classed as an overpay when the Commanders gave him a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed in free agency. Despite his big talk throughout the campaign, there wasn't much substance in a competitive setting.
The Commanders had no financial incentive to cut Kinlaw loose this offseason. He is getting another chance to impress, and there are growing signs that Daronte Jones' defensive switch could help bring more out of the South Carolina product.
Jones' 3-4 defensive front has Kinlaw operating as an end. This looks much more in keeping with his physical strengths, which are coming across encouragingly over the early stages of training camp.
Kinlaw is still talking a big game. But now, he might just be able to back it up with Jones leading the charge.
Add us as a preferred source on Google