Sonny Styles was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he's the key to the future of the Commanders' defense. He is considered one of the top off-ball linebacker prospects in several years, and the prized rookie is already drawing rave reviews from his teammates.
All appears to be going according to plan. And according to Leo Chenal, the maturity Styles displays on a daily basis is already giving the Commanders exactly what they desperately needed.
Chenal is one of Washington's most overlooked free agency pickups, a versatile linebacker who won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. The fifth-year player is expected to take on more responsibilities with his new squad, including as a mentor of sorts for the highly touted rookie.
Commanders rookie Sonny Styles has already made a believer out of Leo Chenal
And regarding Styles' attitude as he undergoes a major transition into the NFL, he has nothing but positive things to say.
"He's definitely a good, mature dude... he doesn't seem like a rookie; he seems like a vet. Just the way he carries himself, the way he's disciplined, it's really showing up every day, and he's really consistent."
A major element of the hype regarding Styles is his on-field leadership and communication. If not already, he will certainly soon be Washington's designated "green dot" player on defense, relaying his coach's signals to the rest of the unit. In more ways than one, the Commanders need him to be the heir to future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner.
Sonny Styles Rookie Season 🔜 pic.twitter.com/KeMqeAqLU5
— All-Pro Reels (@allproreels) July 22, 2026
And even though it's still very early in Styles' professional journey, the impact and high-level traits that enamored the Commanders during their comprehensive pre-draft evaluations are as advertised.
Styles is beyond his years. There's no understating how big a deal that is for Washington, especially with a respected leader such as Wagner no longer part of the team's plans.
The Commanders don't need any prima donnas as they reset and focus on building a sustained winning culture. They have a high-character star young quarterback in Jayden Daniels, and their most important defensive player appears to have the right type of head on his shoulders as well.
That matters, and it's all by design. The Commanders value character highly in their draft picks and free-agent signings. Daniels and Styles embody that to the fullest.
Washington needs Styles to be ready for everything his duty entails, both on and off the field. He will surely face his obstacles in the NFL as any player does, but he's taking them on like a seasoned pro.
Right now, it's hard to ask for anything more. Styles may only be scratching the surface of what he's truly capable of. And he's already made Chenal a big fan.
So far, so good.
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