Commanders' Sonny Styles projected to lead rookies in key stat in 2026
Washington Commanders rookie linebacker Sonny Styles was recently projected to lead all 2026 rookies in tackles.
Adam Peters and his draft team knew what they were doing when they had the Washington Commanders select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had a dynamic four-year career as a Buckeye, even after switching positions from safety to linebacker, and he fits Peters' goal of making the defense younger and faster.
Styles was never going to make it out of the top 10 in the draft, and the Commanders were thrilled he was available at seven. ESPN's Mike Clay recently projected 2026 rookie leaders in 10 different statistical categories, and he projects Styles to lead all rookies in tackles with 123. Shaquille Leonard's 163 tackles in 2018 are the most by a rookie over the past decade, though he is one of only four rookies (all picked in the first two rounds) to reach 125 during the span.
In fact, zero rookies reached 100 tackles in 2023 or 2024 prior to three (Carson Schwesinger, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter) hitting that total in 2025. Styles' projection is a big one, as 122 would be sixth most among rookies over the past decade.
The large number isn't by accident, as the No. 7 overall pick is expected to replace Bobby Wagner as a near-every-down player in the middle of Washington's defense. Reese (No.