Excitement is gradually building before the 2026 NFL Draft. And for the Washington Commanders, getting their choice right at No. 7 overall is critical to general manager Adam Peters' chances of turning things around.
Several prospects are under consideration. Four of those come from Ohio State. However, at least two may be gone by the time Washington goes on the clock, and it might be even more than that.
Linebacker Sonny Styles is a hot name. The Buckeyes' second-level enforcer has the size, athleticism, and range that look tailor-made for Daronte Jones' schematic concepts. Even though Washington signed Leo Chenal to go alongside Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee in free agency, Peters' glowing reference makes this a lively contender.
Giants expert outlines why Commanders may have no shot at drafting Sonny Styles
There's a problem. Most mock draft projections now have Styles off the board by No. 7. And the chances of him being taken by a division rival are high.
Matt Sidney of GMen HQ had Styles as the No. 1 prospect on his board for the New York Giants. He believes this would be a match made in heaven, citing John Harbaugh's previous desire for tone-setting linebackers as a primary reason this scenario may become reality.
"There might not be a better pairing in this draft than Sonny Styles and the Giants. John Harbaugh has always had a dude in the middle of his defense — Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosely, Roquan Smith — and Styles fits right into that mold."
It's an unstable draft once Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall. It's starting to look like it will be either David Bailey or Arvell Reese for the New York Jets at No. 2, but even that is no guarantee. The volatility, which stems from a lack of top-tier quarterback prospects, is something Peters will be ready for. But without any disposable assets to move up, it's difficult to predict.
There aren't many blue-chip prospects, either.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs are two of them. One could argue that Styles and Mendoza come close. That's not going unnoticed by experts, so it won't be going unnoticed by those in positions of power around the league.
Styles would be an exceptional addition to the Commanders. It doesn't seem likely that Bobby Wagner will return, although the door hasn't been completely closed. Frankie Luvu has only one more year left on his deal, and Jordan Maggee remains an unknown quantity. Securing a long-term on-field general to spearhead Jones' defensive renaissance would bring mouthwatering potential attached.
Stranger things have happened, of course. But the smoke around Styles right now doesn't bode well.
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