Sonny Styles

NFL player. Position: LB. Team: WAS.

Quick Facts

Position: Linebacker
Team: WAS (Washington Commanders)
College: Ohio State
Draft: 2026 Round 1, Pick 7

2026 Outlook

Sonny Styles was a top-five projected linebacker who fell to the Washington Commanders at pick 7 on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, providing immediate value. Originally entered college as a five-star safety before transitioning to linebacker, bringing a unique skill set that projects to enable him to impact opposing offenses at all three levels of the defense. Styles is the crown jewel of the Commanders' 2026 draft class and is expected to become an integral part of the new-look defense led by coordinator Daronte Jones (per How the Commanders finessed the 2026 NFL Draft to steal massive value).

Role / Depth Chart

Expected to be part of Commanders' core defensive lineup under new coordinator Daronte Jones.

Injury Status

Healthy entering 2026.

Recent News

2026-04-26 — 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 grades, picks: Every selection in Rounds 4-7 (2026 NFL Draft Day 3 grades, picks: Every selection in Rounds 4-7)
2026-04-17 — 2026 NFL mock draft board has never been this wild (2026 NFL mock draft board has never been this wild)
2026-03-30 — Steelers Depot 2026 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 125 Prospects (Steelers Depot 2026 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 125 Prospects)
2026-04-13 — Jackson: 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Version 3.0 (Top 175 Prospects) (Jackson: 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Version 3.0 (Top 175 Prospects))
2026-06-05 — Ranking the NFL’s Best Defensive Triplets from 32–1 for 2026 (Ranking the NFL’s Best Defensive Triplets from 32–1 for 2026)
2026-06-14 — After Knicks' long-awaited title, ranking NFL teams most likely to end their Super... (After Knicks' long-awaited title, ranking NFL teams most likely to end their Super...)
2026-04-09 — Spring battles that matter: These non-QB competitions could help define 2026 College... (Spring battles that matter: These non-QB competitions could help define 2026 College...)
2026-05-28 — SI's 2026 Ranking of the NFL’s Coach-QB Duos (SI's 2026 Ranking of the NFL’s Coach-QB Duos)
2026-03-06 — 2026 NFL free agency: Biggest needs, predictions for 32 teams (2026 NFL free agency: Biggest needs, predictions for 32 teams)
2026-03-09 — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Ahead of Free Agency: Four Ohio State Players Go Top 10 (2026 NFL Mock Draft Ahead of Free Agency: Four Ohio State Players Go Top 10)

Open Questions

Will his safety-to-linebacker transition translate at the NFL level?
How quickly will he contribute as a three-level defender for Washington?