The Washington Commanders had to nail the 2026 NFL Draft and it did just that with the selection of former Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles in the first round.

It’s the perfect pick for Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, who both need an athletic, intelligent, and instinctual defender that can play multiple positions on defense.

Commanders’ new linebacker Sonny Styles has a lot of similar traits to Fred Warner and it’s why he was taken in the first round

It was a bit surprising to see Styles fall to No. 7 overall, since he was expected by many to go in the top-5 after an outstanding offseason. Regardless, the Commanders have a legit player after nabbing Sonny Styles in the first round, as A to Z Ohio State’s Brandon Little explains below:

“Styles is a coach’s dream prospect at linebacker when you consider everything he brings. The Ohio State product has just two full seasons at the position, having converted from safety, where he began his career in Columbus. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, any team that drafts Styles is getting an athletic linebacker who can run with quick offensive skill players and deliver big hits as well. The former Buckeye also has strong hand usage, allowing him to stack and shed opposing offensive linemen and make plays on the ball regularly, where he improved big time in 2025.

“I first saw Styles play a sport when he was an eighth grader in Pickerington, Ohio, already dunking in games. At the time, I genuinely thought he might become a future NBA player. That’s a testament to the kind of athlete he’s always been. He’s also a stand-up person from a terrific family, and any NFL team that drafts him won’t have to worry about any off-field concerns. Styles is a man of few words, but he gets the job done.”

Styles is a great fit for the Commanders defense and it’s easy to see why. Frankie Luvu took a step back in 2025 and he’s in a contract year. Newly-signed Leo Chenal is a good player, but limited. And then, obviously, Jordan Magee, Nick Bellore, Kain Medrano, and Ale Kaho simply don’t have anywhere near the pedigree Styles has.

Styles has been compared to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and that makes it easy to see why this is a Peters pick. He obviously hails from the 49ers front office and knows just how valuable a player like Warner is in this day and age.

If Styles can even live up to 75% of Warner’s status, it’s a good pick And there’s plenty of reason to think he can do just that.

Look for Styles to be utilized in all kinds of ways. Again, he can do it all. He can blitz, cover, and defend the run. He’s the perfect kind of chess piece Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones needs for the new-look Commanders defense.

Grade: A