The Washington Commanders were always higher on linebacker Sonny Styles than most. It was a nervous wait to see if he would be available when they went on the clock at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but fortune was smiling upon them in the end.
Running back Jeremiyah Love and wide receiver Carnell Tate going in the first four picks changed everything. The Commanders believe they've hit the jackpot with Styles, the new defensive linchpin with the dynamism and athleticism to take the league by storm.
And for Maurice Jones-Drew, the projections are even higher than that.
Maurice Jones-Drew makes bold projection for Commanders' rookie Sonny Styles
The former All-Pro running back, now an NFL Network analyst, made a bold prediction about Styles. When discussing which of the highly touted Ohio State prospects who went high in the draft will have the best career, Jones-Drew picked Washington's new second-level enforcer.
And the reasons were sound.
Jones-Drew pointed to head coach Dan Quinn's previous experience with linebacker development as the primary factor behind Styles' promising outlook. The Jacksonville Jaguars legend emphasized that "keeping things simple" for the incoming rookie will help him take off right away. Couple this with his unique athleticism, speed to the football, capabilities in coverage, and versatility, and it's not hard to see why the Commanders pulled the trigger.
Styles also has ambition. He wants to be great. He wants to be a starter for a decade with Pro Bowl-caliber upside. The work ethic and high character are just as important as anything he put out on tape with the Buckeyes, which makes him a superb culture fit in Washington for good measure.
This only adds to the excitement around Styles. The Commanders' linebacking corps is the strongest it's been in years. With Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, and free-agent signing Leo Chenal also around, this provides all the pieces coordinator Daronte Jones needs to spearhead his defensive revolution in Washington.
Tate went to the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Arvell Reese was chosen by the New York Giants. After a longer-than-expected wait, safety Caleb Downs landed on the Dallas Cowboys. Styles is in Washington. All four should be exceptional pros, but Jones-Drew believes that the Commanders will get the better end of this draft when it's all said and done.
The Commanders need to build the defense around Styles. He won't be able to do it all, but he's got franchise cornerstone written all over him.
And if Jones-Drew's projection becomes a reality, this will be a home-run pick by the Commanders.
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