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The Washington Commanders made Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the third Buckeyes player selected in the top seven picks.

Styles’ journey to becoming one of the top linebackers in the NFL Draft was a lengthy one. He arrived in Columbus early, skipping his senior year of high school, and was originally a safety for the Buckeyes when he joined the team in 2022.

He moved to linebacker in 2024 and showed off the elite athleticism that made him a five-star prospect out of high school, in addition to making big strides as a run-stopper. After just one year as a starting linebacker, he thought about entering the NFL Draft, but he returned for another year of experience and improved his draft stock immensely.

The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Styles had 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 2025, patrolling the middle of the field. One of the best games of his career came against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, when he had a career-high 12 tackles. The son of 1995 third-round pick Lorenzo Styles, Sonny Styles ran a 4.46 40 and more than showed his skills can transfer to the NFL.

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Styles ranked No. 4 on Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“Styles is a freaky height/weight/speed athlete with fluid change of direction and the playmaking range to cover every blade of grass. He processes quickly and delivers pop at contact as a downhill player, rarely missing tackles thanks to his ability to violently overwhelm the ball carrier.”

Coaching intel

What an anonymous running backs coach had to say about Styles in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:

“On the film, he’s massive. They just stuck Sonny in the middle and let him roam. He was really good, and he can fly, but you didn’t feel him as much as you did Arvell (Reese).”

Scott Dochterman grades the pick

Dan Quinn is a defensive coach at heart, and his defense was in dire need of a second-level playmaker. There’s no better off-ball linebacker than Styles, who can play in any subpackage and wreak havoc on an offense. He’s also a high-character leader and will make for a great pairing with Leo Chenal. Styles began his career as a safety, then shifted to linebacker where he started 42 games over three seasons, including all 16 in the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship season. A first-team All-American last year, Styles put up 244 tackles — including 22.5 for loss — nine sacks and nine passes defensed. Grade: A

Ted Nguyen’s assessment

With the Commanders moving towards a Brian Flores-influenced system with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, versatility is a must, and Styles can do it all. His experience as a defensive back shows up in coverage, and he’s a high-IQ, second-level LB. What’s really intriguing is that he has the length and athleticism to improve as a pass rusher, something he’s been working on since Ohio State’s season ended. Jones is going to blitz him and line him up all over the defense.

How he fits

Styles checks all the boxes for Quinn and Jones, and immediately upgrades a defense that was often a liability last season. Jones has stressed the need for versatility, and Styles provides it arguably better than anyone in this draft. After two years as a safety, Styles transitioned to linebacker at Ohio State and quickly became an All-American. He has the coveted size for his position, combined with rare speed and athleticism, and quick decision-making and reactions. He can cover both tight ends and slot receivers, and is a sound tackler; he missed only two tackles in 2025.

With Jayden Daniels leading the offense, Styles has a chance to become the “quarterback” of the defense and a long-term staple for the Commanders.

Depth-chart impact

Styles is an immediate starter; any prospect taken seventh overall would start. No matter, Styles has the skill set and leadership to claim that role. He also doesn’t face much competition for a starting role. Washington added Chenal in free agency and has Frankie Luvu returning, along with young linebackers Jordan Magee, Ale Kaho and Kain Medrano. The Commanders think highly of Magee, and he should see more playing time, but Styles is a rare talent, with a high draft slot to pad his leverage.

They also could have picked …

Safety Caleb Downs or pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Both would’ve been solid selections, but Washington was never going to pass on Styles if he was still available. Washington has centered its offseason around the defense, and adding a player of his caliber at a position Quinn and general manager Adam Peters both value was too easy.

Fast evaluation

After years of lacking a long-term defensive centerpiece, the Commanders found their complement to Daniels — a versatile, freakishly athletic and very smart player who can lead a much-needed turnaround. Peters knows better than most how valuable a linebacker can be from his time in San Francisco with Fred Warner. Styles could fill a similar role and provides an instant boost for Washington.

The Commanders have devoted much of the offseason to rebuilding their defense, and now they get their centerpiece: the draft’s top linebacker and one of its finest players overall. Styles has the coveted size for his position and freakish athleticism that he put on display at the NFL combine. He can quickly diagnose and react, using his elite speed to cut off running angles and his coverage skills as a former safety to play in space. He’s also a powerful blitzer, allowing Washington to use him in multiple ways.