It didn't take a genius to figure out that the Washington Commanders had linebacker Sonny Styles high on their list of possibilities at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. And after luck fell in their favor, it was a gift that general manager Adam Peters wasn't going to waste.
The Commanders faced an anxious wait to see what would go before they went on the clock. Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate both went in the top five, opening things up dramatically. When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to No. 6 for cornerback Mansoor Delane, the can't-miss present from the football gods was confirmed.
And then, the decision was simple.
Adam Peters always knew Commanders' guy was Sonny Styles, and they got lucky
Peters and others in the building were clearly blown away by Styles. Not only by his immense athletic attributes, but also by the way he conducted himself during the assessment process. After that, the answer was staring him right in the face.
"Looking at this, we wanted to get the best player. We didn't want to draft for need, and we felt the best player staring us in the face was a linebacker.
"A lot of guys try to sell themselves, and rightfully so. It's a job interview. But he was very real and very comfortable in what he said. It gives you confidence he's going to do everything he can to be great for us."
The Commanders spoke glowingly of Styles beforehand. Not many thought he would make it to No. 7, but the choices of others were Washington's gain. Peters also got the opportunity to draft the best available prospect, which was always his primary objective.
This fits into the mold Washington has built this offseason. Peters has prioritized defense, which now looks much stronger. The Commanders have a surplus of linebackers, with Styles joining Frankie Luvu, Leo Chenal, and Jordan Magee. But considering how things unfolded last season, this was an absolute necessity.
It's where Styles wanted to be, too. He had a feeling it would be Washington, and his prayers were answered. This looks like a match made in heaven, and there is just no telling what defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has planned for the second-level enforcer who can literally do it all.
Peters seemed completely convinced. Reports suggested that this was always head coach Dan Quinn's guy. And now, the task falls on Styles to repay this faith en route to becoming a franchise cornerstone for the next decade.
It's hard to ignore the conviction around this one. Hopefully, everything goes according to plan.
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