Washington Commanders Draft Sonny Styles

0:00On April 24th, Washington commanders grabbed Ohio State linebacker Sonny Stiles with the seventh pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. As 6.5 and 244 pounds, this guy is a versatile beast who started as a safety before sliding to linebacker. Coach Dan Quinn seized him as the perfect air to Bobby Wagner, bringing the hybrid skillset to shut down modern offenses. Leading into the draft, Mox bounced between edge rushers and skill guys, but the commanders locked in on Stiles' upside. His family's all football dad, Lorenzo, played seven NFL seasons, won a Super Bowl with the Rams, then coached high school ball where Sonny starred. Stiles and his brother balled out at Pickerington Central, snagging state titles in 2017 and 2019. Sonny even won a basketball state championship there too, before committing to Ohio State, where he thrived as a safety linebacker tweener under Ryan Day. It stands out as his range and speed for his size.

1:00He closes gaps fast and chaos, covers tight ends and blitzes without tipping plays. Still, he's raw on linebacker reads and block shedding since he's spent years in the secondary, but his instinct scream high ceiling. With offenses spreading out more, Stiles fits right in, potentially molding into a Fred Warner type. Commander's fans, get ready. This pick could redefine their defense for years. You've been listening to NFL News today, AI-powered football coverage.