Commanders Draft Styles, Lions Pass on Campbell

0:00On April 30th, Washington commanders just snag linebacker Sonny Stiles at the 7th spot in the 2026 NFL draft. Fans are hyped, seeing him as the long-term anchor their defense has craved, especially after he slipped out of the top 5 picks. Over in Detroit, the Lions are passing on the 5th year option for their star-off-ball linebacker, Jack Campbell. That deal was set to hit $21,925,000, making him the highest-paid at his position. Campbell balled out last season with Pro Bowl and All Pro nods, piling up 402 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 8.5. Sacks over 3 years. Meanwhile, the Lions locked in running back to your Meyer Gibbs' option for a lighter $14,290,000. If Stiles turns into that kind of defensive rock, filling the hole left by Bobby Wagner, the commanders could face the same pricey dilemma years from. Now. General manager Adam Peters knows the salary cap is climbing, so extensions might be the smart play to spread costs.

1:01Bottom line, drafting elite linebackers in Round 1 means budgeting big if they deliver. The commanders are turning their draft look around, with guys like Jayden Daniels and Now Stiles, but keeping talent means paying up when it counts.