Commanders LB Sonny Styles is a top value from Day 1 of 2026 NFL Draft
Next Gen stats loves the value from the Commanders' selection of Sonny Styles.
The Washington Commanders have found their replacement for linebacker Bobby Wagner. On Thursday, the Commanders used the No. 7 overall pick on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Adam Peters had a mission this offseason: make the Commanders "younger and faster. " It's been a common theme since free agency began last month. Washington signed over a dozen free agents from outside the organization, focusing on players in their mid-20s who were coming off their rookie contracts.
Many of those newcomers were signed on the defensive side of the ball in an effort to improve one of the NFL's worst-ranked defenses. Wagner, a future Hall of Famer, turns 36 this year and is a free agent. While Washington loves everything about Wagner, the Commanders needed more from the position in 2026.
Now, Styles joins a revamped linebacker room that also features Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee. Styles entered the draft as Daniel Jeremiah's No. 3-ranked player, with many shocked he was still on the board when the Commanders were on the clock at No.