The Washington Commanders have to hit on their first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. They don't have second or fourth round picks after trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year. But with the No. 7 overall selection, a blue-chip prospect should be there for the taking.
And for one fast-rising prospect, he should be firmly on general manager Adam Peters' radar after a historic display of pure athleticism at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
It's no secret that the Commanders need more at the linebacker position. Bobby Wagner's time in Washington might be over. Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee should have roles to play, but an extra level of energy is needed under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. This looks like a fantastic draft to find precisely that.
Sonny Styles' dazzling NFL Combine shouldn't go unnoticed by the Commanders
Sonny Styles might be the best of the bunch. The Ohio State prospect was a first-round lock, with many experts projecting him to the Commanders even before this dazzling showing in Indianapolis. He's the size of a linebacker with the arm length of an edge rusher who also played safety earlier in his career. Simply put, this is a rare athlete, and he showcased that to full effect during on-field drills.
NFL Combine Drill | Mark |
|---|---|
40-yard dash | 4.46 seconds |
10-second split | 1.56 seconds |
Vertical jump | 43.5 inches |
Broad jump | 11 foot, 2 inches |
3-cone drill | 7.09 seconds |
20-yard shuttle | 4.26 seconds |
Sonny Styles is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 4 out of 3216 LB from 1987 to 2026.
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 27, 2026
Split projected, bench tomorrow. Just good agility drills wasn't enough to hold that 10.00.https://t.co/aKcBrwdovJ pic.twitter.com/KwIRH3MlcD
These are otherworldly numbers. More importantly for the Commanders and everyone else around the NFL, the tape matches.
Styles is an electrifying prospect — a legitimate sideline-to-sideline force who thrives in coverage, makes things happen against the run, and can even rush the passer when the situation dictates. If the Commanders are looking for a Wagner replacement, this might just be the perfect candidate.
It seems as if edge rusher David Bailey, do-it-all defensive weapon Arvell Reese, and maybe even Rueben Bain Jr. could be off the board by the time Washington goes on the clock. That could lead the Commanders to Styles, which wouldn't be a bad consolation prize by any stretch of the imagination.
He's a physical force on the field, with a relentless mindset to keep improving. Styles wants to be great. He wants to be a dominant force and an exceptional communicator. He wants to lead from the front. That will be equally as important to coaches like Jones and Dan Quinn, who value culture highly.
This was a mesmerizing showing that got the entire league talking. Styles wasn't the only linebacker to perform extremely well, but his physical profile and athletic gifts stood out on a different level than the rest.
These are also traits the Commanders desperately need to finally give fans a defense to be proud of.