Who is Sonny Styles?
The Washington Commanders made Styles their 2026 first-round choice at No. 7 on Thursday night. The former Ohio State Buckeye had been mocked to be selected in the top five, but fell to the Commanders at No. 7 when the Kansas City Chiefs traded up with Cleveland, passing the Commanders to draft the highest-rated corner, Monsoor Delane.
Sonny Styles 43.5″ vertical 🔥🔥
#1 highest since 2003 for anyone 6’4″+
#1 highest since 2003 for anyone 240+ lbs
FREAK!!pic.twitter.com/mNXIDr5OLc
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 26, 2026
Here are some interesting facts about the newest Commander’s linebacker selected Thursday by GM Adam Peters.
- Styles vaulted up draft boards with his eyebrow-raising Combine performance. At 6’5 | 244 pounds, Styles recorded an 11’2″ broad jump (T-4th all-time)* 43.5″ vertical jump (1st all-time)* 4.46 40-yard dash. Some referred to Styles as the top player in the class.
- These are Sonny Styles’ NFL Combine measurements: – 6’5″, 244 pounds – 32 7/8″ arms – 10″ hands – 80 7/8″ wingspan.
- The Ohio State linebacker recorded 83 Tackles, one QB sack, 1 forced fumble, and one interception during the 2025 regular season.
- Styles’ career stats at Ohio State were: 245 tackles, passes defended 9, sacks 9, forced fumbles 3, interceptions 1
- Styles was an Ohio State safety and has transitioned up to linebacker, still learning the position.
- Styles may be the ultimate illustration of GM Adam Peters’ declaration that the Commanders needed to get younger and faster.
- DC Daronte Jones has suddenly obtained in his first off season linebackers Leo Chenal and Sonny Styles, perhaps the two most athletic linebacker teammates. Chenal ranked 3rd all-time in the RAS metric and Styles first.
- In March, NFL Draft Files tweeted: Sonny Styles is my #1 overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft He put up a 9.99 RAS, but his film is so good that athletic testing feels like an afterthought. He is the only blue chip prospect in this year’s class:
- Sonny Styles was quite the high school basketball player in Ohio.
Sonny Styles high school basketball highlights pic.twitter.com/dndSn1nFju
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) April 22, 2026
Here is Styles’ first interview as a Washington Commander:
“I was there a few weeks ago, I told Coach Quinn hopefully I’ll be back soon.”
Now it’s official for Sonny Styles heading to the @Commanders 🙌
2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/57Yni7P6qp— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Who is Sonny Styles?