The Washington Commanders had tremendous conviction in linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters may not have seen the board go as he thought, but he was not going to pass up a prospect who had franchise cornerstone upside for his defense.
Had things gone differently involving one of Styles' former teammates at Ohio State, the thought process may have been different.
It was no secret that the Commanders were looking to add another wide receiver at some stage during the draft. Peters eventually settled on Antonio Williams at No. 71 overall, who's made an exceptional transition over Washington's early workouts. However, Carnell Tate's recent revelation added some extra spice to the equation.
Carnell Tate thought he was going to the Commanders before Tennessee came calling
During an interview with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Equanimeous St. Brown for their podcast, Tate thought he was going to the Commanders. That is where both he and his representatives thought he was locked into, but those plans changed quickly when the Tennessee Titans came calling at No. 4 overall.
"I thought I was locked in on the Commanders (at 7)."
— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) June 10, 2026
Carnell Tate speaks on his NFL Draft experience, noting that he didn't expect to go as high as No. 4 to the Titans 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Iyhwg87w4a
Tate didn't expect to go in the top five, which was a nice surprise for him that added even more dollars to his fully guaranteed rookie contract. With running back Jeremiyah Love being taken third by the Arizona Cardinals, it cracked the window open for Washington to get an elite defensive playmaker.
This limited Peters' ability to find a trade-down partner, especially after the Kansas City Chiefs moved up to No. 6 to select cornerback Mansoor Delane. Even so, the Commanders were equally as comfortable sitting tight and landing Styles.
He was high on their board. Peters and head coach Dan Quinn made no secret of their admiration for the second-level force during their pre-draft assessments, whose rare athleticism and exceptional leadership were precisely what the Commanders were looking for. They didn't think there was much chance of him being there at No. 7, but they got lucky.
Styles has made an immediate impression. He's long, fast, and his football IQ has already drawn widespread praise. This has all the makings of a long-term defensive linchpin, and even though the Commanders are making him earn it, he'll be tasked with significant responsibilities right out of the gate.
Would the Commanders have gone in a different direction if Tate were available? Perhaps, but that does not detract from what an important addition to the ranks Styles could be if he reaches his enormous ceiling.
Tate ended up going way higher than projections. And this caused a ripple effect that saw Styles drop into Washington's lap.
Seems like a win-win for all involved.
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