There is an enormous amount of anticipation around what linebacker Sonny Styles can bring to the Washington Commanders. Those in power had a simple decision to make when he slipped out of the top five and into their laps at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the former Ohio State standout will wear No. 52 during his rookie year.
Styles adds to what looks like a very strong linebacker room, filled with more explosiveness, aggression, and dynamism than in years past. That is precisely what new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones was looking for, and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner added his name to the list of those who believe the Commanders may have something special on their hands.
The reports around Styles were glowing. Teammates gushed about his football IQ, leadership, and pre-snap communication. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia spent months talking with general manager Adam Peters about how best to utilize the second-level enforcer. And after a stroke of good fortune during the draft, he's now Washington's.
Kurt Warner believes superstardom beckons for Commanders rookie Sonny Styles
Warner, a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who now works as an analyst on the NFL Network, thought Styles was the total package Washington needs. He also believes superstardom won't be far behind with a fast start to his professional career.
"Washington is getting a heck of a football player. What I love about Sonny Styles is his versatility. He's a guy who played safety. He's very good in the passing game. He's got tremendous instincts, tremendous length. He can play in any and every down. I think he is going to be a superstar in this league, and I think Washington got a great one."
The Commanders think so, too.
Peters revealed that taking Styles was a straightforward exercise when he was still on the board. Washington's front-office leader didn't think there was much chance of that happening, but fortune favored the Commanders. And if everything goes well, this could be a linchpin defensive piece to build around for the next decade or more.
Styles isn't just a high percentile athlete. He's ambitious, with a work ethic tailor-made for the culture head coach Dan Quinn has built. This pick was as much about the character as the on-field talent. It was also one of the safest bets in the entire 2026 class.
All eyes will be on the practice field when Styles participates in Washington's rookie minicamp. He'll be eager to set a tone for others to follow. And when he joins up with his veteran teammates for OTAs, fans should expect more of the same.
As Warner said, the Commanders got a great one. Now, Styles has to meet the meteoric hype.
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