General manager Adam Peters had a plan. Nobody knew what that was, but the Washington Commanders caused a significant stir by selecting Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
And one Ohio State expert believes this could be the home run Washington needed, given the few high-end draft picks available to Peters after his trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year.
Peters had to bide his time. The Commanders couldn't control what was going on in front of them. When Styles fell into their laps, they didn't flinch. Because, based on some pre-draft projections from analysts, that was not a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination.
Ohio State expert believes Commanders hit a home run with Sonny Styles
Ryan Stano of Scarlet and Game delved a little deeper into what the Commanders and their passionate fan base can expect from Styles in Washington. The second-level enforcer brings everything Daronte Jones is looking for to enhance his defense. And if his time with the franchise goes as the expert anticipates, head coach Dan Quinn will have an exceptional presence on his hands.
"There is no bigger physical freak in this draft than Sonny Styles. After playing safety for his first two seasons, he really came into his own as a linebacker in 2025. Being able to run a 4.46 40-yard dash and jump 43.5 inches whille standing 6'5 and 244 pounds is absurd.
"His strength and speed make him an extremely versatile piece. He can stop the run and cover in the pass game. If it wasn't for being teammates with Reese, he might be the best linebacker in the draft. Sliding outside the top 10 would be surprising."
This only raises excitement.
Styles comes into the league with a big reputation. His production at the college level needs no introduction. He's got the size, length, and explosiveness that Washington has emphasized throughout Peters' third recruitment phase at the helm. No draft pick is guaranteed to succeed, but the dynamic linebacker has a better chance than most.
Obviously, not everyone was thrilled. Some fans wanted the Commanders to go in a different direction, but there was enough reported interest in Styles throughout their comprehensive pre-draft assessments to suggest this was always a possibility if he made it this far down the pecking order.
One cannot say this wasn't a need, either. And given Peters' intent to take the best available prospect, Styles was probably sitting atop Washington's list of options when it was finally their turn to choose.
Fortune favored the Commanders, and they took advantage. If Rano's assessment is correct, Styles should be able to quickly establish himself and hit the ground running. At a time when Washington's long-term fortunes are hanging in the balance, this will be desperately needed.
And in all honesty, that is the minimum requirement with such a lofty draft investment.
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