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The Washington Commanders spent the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State All-American linebacker Sonny Styles. What was not to like about Styles? At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, Styles was built like an edge rusher or tight end, with wide receiver speed. He aced the 2026 NFL Combine, but make no mistake, Styles was not a "workout wonder."
Originally a safety, Styles moved to linebacker in 2024. He was outstanding in his first year at linebacker, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2025, Styles continued his ascent, becoming a first-team All-American. In addition to his athleticism and on-field exploits, Styles was born to play football. His father, Lorenzo, was an All-Big Ten linebacker at Ohio State and played six seasons in the NFL.
Now, Styles is expected to be the future for Washington's defense, much like quarterback Jayden Daniels is to the offense. And one former Ohio State All-American linebacker and NFL first-round pick, believes Styles is a home-run pick for the Commanders.
Ryan Shazier played at Ohio State from 2011-13, earning All-American honors in 2013, before entering the 2014 NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him 15th overall. Shazier was on his way to superstardom, earning two Pro Bowl berths, but in his fourth NFL season, he suffered a spinal cord injury that unfortunately ended his career at only 25.
Shazier called Washington's pick of Styles "safe," and he meant it in a good way.
"He’s one of the safest picks, because the one thing with Sonny is that he’s very consistent," Shazier told Kyle Odegard of Casino Guru. "A lot of times, guys get drafted off potential. They’ll look good in college, but it’s about the potential. With Sonny — and Caleb Downs — I feel like they got drafted off potential and production. When you watch their film, you see them flash, but it’s not really a flash. This guy is supposed to be there, and he’s there every time."
A player who Styles was often compared to ahead of the draft was 49ers star Fred Warner. Shazier explains that comparison.
"The reason he got that comparison to Fred Warner is because he used to play safety, and he’s good in coverage. Obviously, Sonny didn’t have a whole lot of interceptions, but he’s in the right area at the right time. Darrelle Revis didn’t get a lot of interceptions, but he was always where he needed to be. I feel like that’s the same thing with Sonny."
Finally, Shazier offered a full scouting report on Styles:
"He’s big, he’s long, he’s rangy. In the run game, he doesn’t miss any tackles," he continued. "In the pass game, he covers really well. He’s always square and always in the right position. If you do get a comparison, that’s the one you want heading into the NFL. That’s amazing."
Washington's mission this offseason was to get younger and faster. That mission was accomplished through GM Adam Peters' aggressive free-agent approach, signing multiple starters, most of whom were coming off their rookie contracts. Styles, paired with fellow newcomer Leo Chenal, completely changes everything about Washington's defense in 2026.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding Styles with the Commanders. That excitement continues to grow.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Ryan Shazier is high on Sonny Styles
Continue reading...
Originally a safety, Styles moved to linebacker in 2024. He was outstanding in his first year at linebacker, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2025, Styles continued his ascent, becoming a first-team All-American. In addition to his athleticism and on-field exploits, Styles was born to play football. His father, Lorenzo, was an All-Big Ten linebacker at Ohio State and played six seasons in the NFL.
Now, Styles is expected to be the future for Washington's defense, much like quarterback Jayden Daniels is to the offense. And one former Ohio State All-American linebacker and NFL first-round pick, believes Styles is a home-run pick for the Commanders.
Ryan Shazier played at Ohio State from 2011-13, earning All-American honors in 2013, before entering the 2014 NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him 15th overall. Shazier was on his way to superstardom, earning two Pro Bowl berths, but in his fourth NFL season, he suffered a spinal cord injury that unfortunately ended his career at only 25.
Shazier called Washington's pick of Styles "safe," and he meant it in a good way.
"He’s one of the safest picks, because the one thing with Sonny is that he’s very consistent," Shazier told Kyle Odegard of Casino Guru. "A lot of times, guys get drafted off potential. They’ll look good in college, but it’s about the potential. With Sonny — and Caleb Downs — I feel like they got drafted off potential and production. When you watch their film, you see them flash, but it’s not really a flash. This guy is supposed to be there, and he’s there every time."
A player who Styles was often compared to ahead of the draft was 49ers star Fred Warner. Shazier explains that comparison.
"The reason he got that comparison to Fred Warner is because he used to play safety, and he’s good in coverage. Obviously, Sonny didn’t have a whole lot of interceptions, but he’s in the right area at the right time. Darrelle Revis didn’t get a lot of interceptions, but he was always where he needed to be. I feel like that’s the same thing with Sonny."
Finally, Shazier offered a full scouting report on Styles:
"He’s big, he’s long, he’s rangy. In the run game, he doesn’t miss any tackles," he continued. "In the pass game, he covers really well. He’s always square and always in the right position. If you do get a comparison, that’s the one you want heading into the NFL. That’s amazing."
Washington's mission this offseason was to get younger and faster. That mission was accomplished through GM Adam Peters' aggressive free-agent approach, signing multiple starters, most of whom were coming off their rookie contracts. Styles, paired with fellow newcomer Leo Chenal, completely changes everything about Washington's defense in 2026.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding Styles with the Commanders. That excitement continues to grow.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Ryan Shazier is high on Sonny Styles
Continue reading...
