Expectations around the Washington Commanders' rookie class need to be high. There is pressure on the club to turn things around next season, and everyone needs to pull their weight. That also goes for those taking the first steps of their NFL journeys.
The higher the draft pick, the more will be demanded. And even though it's early days, head coach Dan Quinn already seems smitten with first-round linebacker Sonny Styles.
This was reportedly the guy, though the Commanders didn't hold out much hope that the former Ohio State star would be available. Styles was a gift, and the initial impression made couldn't have been more impressive.
Dan Quinn has massive plans for Sonny Styles within Commanders' new defense
It's clear that Quinn has big plans for Styles within Daronte Jones' schematic concepts, as evidenced by his comments to Eric Williams of FOX Sports. His love for the game and willingness to go the extra mile also led the coach to believe that he is only just scratching the surface of what he might be capable of.
"What I like about Sonny is he has the traits — the work, the love of it and the discipline to go and do extra. That carries from college into pro ball. And he’s hungry. Those are just a few things that he can bring to us.
"I have a sense that he’s going to be excellent at a lot of spots, but one of the things he didn’t do a lot of at Ohio State was blitzing. But I think with his speed and his length, I’m excited to develop that part of his game, too."
Styles is an alpha in every sense of the term. The Commanders were put over the top by his Ohio State teammates' comments, leaving no doubt he was the undisputed leader of their locker room. Establishing yourself in the pros is a different story, but it shouldn't take too long.
The Commanders are expecting Styles to be a franchise cornerstone they can build around for the next decade or more. And this is not your typical off-ball linebacker.
He's got the size, length, and athleticism to be a sideline-to-sideline force. Styles can rush the passer effectively and blitz well. His previous experience in the safety position also makes him an asset in coverage. And the football intelligence could see him man the green dot responsibilities sooner rather than later.
Simply put, he's the total package.
Quinn knows a thing or two about defense and good linebackers. He's coached a ton, from Bobby Wagner to Micah Parsons and everything in between. He sees something special in Styles, which only adds to the excitement around what the highly touted rookie could potentially accomplish in Year 1 of his professional career.
If he can deliver the goods, the Commanders' defense is going to look entirely different.
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