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. 5 overall) was selected before Styles, but his role (is he more of an edge or an off-ball linebacker?) is a little less clear. Considering the underwhelming state of the Colts’ off-ball linebacker room, Allen has a path to a full-time role as a second-round pick.
The most tackles by a rookie safety over the past decade is 147 by Jalen Pitre in 2022. Only 12 others reached 80 during that span, with three hitting 100. First-rounders Downs and Thieneman are positioned as every-down starters in Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Both should put up solid tackle numbers in Year 1.
As a junior in his first season as a linebacker, Styles recorded 100 tackles and six sacks en route to an Ohio State National Championship.
In Bobby Wagner’s rookie season, he recorded 140 total tackles, and in his last season with the Commanders, he racked up 162 tackles. Styles will have ample opportunity to hit 123 tackles this season, and despite Clay’s prediction already being bold, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Styles have even more tackles than that. He’s got a nose for the ball, and with his ability to also drop back and play in the middle third, he will create his own opportunities along the way.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Projecting Sonny Styles rookie numbers in 2026