Sonny Styles is the real deal. The Washington Commanders struck gold with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and even though things haven't quite gone according to plan, the rookie linebacker has proven he belongs in no time.
Styles is as advertised and then some. With the opening half of his first NFL season almost in the books, the reports have been glowing.
It's not hard to see why.
Sonny Styles' electrifying Commanders start is rightfully drawing national plaudits
The Commanders needed Styles to take on an alpha-like role immediately. They lost Frankie Luvu for a couple of games due to injury. Leo Chenal's fractured neck ruled him out for the entire campaign, further depleting defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' options at the second level.
These setbacks meant Styles had to grow up quickly.
Fortunately for the Commanders, he was made for this moment.
There have been some inevitable growing pains, especially early on. But overall, the Commanders must be thrilled with Styles' output over the first seven games of the campaign.
He's already racked up 54 tackles, one sack, eight pressures, and an interception. Styles has three tackles for loss and is giving up an 82.0 passer rating when targeted. The missed tackles must come down, but that should work itself out with more experience.
The sky is the limit for Styles. He's a complete-package linebacker, and the Ohio State product is just getting started.
The Commanders are dealing with some injuries. They are 2-4-1 with their fortunes hanging in the balance. But in Styles, this team has an ambitious young stud destined for superstardom.
Sonny Styles already looks destined for superstardom with the Commanders
This is not going unnoticed around the national talking heads, either.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports is among those who've been highly impressed with Styles' early efforts, giving him an A+ through the early stages of his ANFL journey. And it's his ability in coverage that is truly setting him apart from other linebackers around the league.
"His instincts and athleticism stood out at Ohio State, and he's carried those strengths into the NFL. He's been particularly effective in coverage vs. TEs and RBs, and he's shown consistent improvement against the run. There have been occasional missed tackles, but through eight weeks, he's been one of the best players in this rookie class."
This praise is well deserved, but it won't mean much to Styles.
He's all about what's in front of him. He wants to be the very best, and he is turning over every stone in pursuit of improvement. The Commanders were obviously enamored by his exceptional athletic gifts, but his elite mindset left no doubt he was the guy.
And when Styles somehow dropped out of the top five and into Washington's lap, it was a gift from the football gods that general manager Adam Peters couldn't pass up.
Styles is a franchise cornerstone. He's a defensive pillar for the Commanders to build around for the next decade or more. And he's still just 21, so the first-year pro is only just scratching the surface of what he could be capable of.
The Commanders have problems — a lot of them.
But Styles has repaid their faith quickly.
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