Peter Schrager's mock drafts are always among the hotly anticipated in the cycle. It's not a weekly occurrence from the respected ESPN analyst and insider. He gains as much information as possible from around the league before making his picks, and he only does it twice.
His first one is now out. Schrager made his feelings about what the Washington Commanders should do in no uncertain terms. He thinks the pick will be defense, and there is one prospect firmly on his radar.
Schrager has the Commanders picking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, together with the Buckeyes' duo of safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate, were still on the board, but adding to the defensive second-level was the choice.
Peters Schrager fans the flames over Commanders picking Sonny Styles at No. 7
The reasoning? Schrager thought general manager Adam Peters' prior experience with the San Francisco 49ers, having seen firsthand the impact Fred Warner had on the team, could tip the scales in Styles' favor if he's still available.
"I believe Washington is going to go defense; it gave up 6.0 yards per play in 2025, tied for third worst. [Sonny] Styles shows a lot of the same traits that Fred Warner has displayed in San Francisco, and GM Adam Peters -- who came from San Francisco -- knows what Warner has meant for the 49ers all these years.
"Styles had 77 tackles as a sideline-to-sideline defender last season and then lit up the combine with a smooth 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and a 43½-inch vertical jump. I like this fit."
Styles boasts a unique blend of size, athleticism, and explosiveness. He's a three-level threat, boasting exceptional gifts against the run or generating disruption in pass-rushing situations. His previous experience as a safety makes him an asset in coverage, so it's not hard to see why he's such a highly coveted prospect.
The linchpin of Ohio State's defense put out some outstanding tape during his time in college. Styles' historic performance at the NFL Scouting Combine cemented his credentials. Most analysts believe he'll be among the first prospects off the board, and Peters made no secret of his admiration for the do-it-all linebacker at the annual league meetings.
The Commanders clearly like him. Styles will be on the shortlist, and he could put himself right at the top if everything goes well during his pre-draft visit to Washington. Whether Peters will get the chance to draft him hasn't been determined, because a team in the top six could easily pull the trigger.
But if Styles is still around, this could be the guy.