Love him or hate him, when it comes to NFL draft season, Mel Kiper Jr. is a fixture on screens. Kiper has been making predictions and sparking debates, along with projecting who the future NFL stars will be for the last several decades. Many folks put a lot of stock into Kiper’s predictions, and 2026 will be no different. In his latest mock draft, Kiper has the Washington Commanders selecting a defensive weapon that could potentially be the new anchor of their defense. Kiper has the Commanders selecting Sonny Styles, a linebacker out of Ohio State, with the number seven pick in the NFL draft. Sonny Styles to Washington could be a match made in heaven.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the #Commanders selecting LB Sonny Styles!
Player comp: Fred Warner 👀
Thoughts? #Raisehail https://t.co/cQJcXwYY1E pic.twitter.com/e0ipV10GuF
— Deuce_Redzone (@redzoneinthelab) February 24, 2026
How does Sonny Styles fit into Washington’s defensive scheme? If you take a look at Last Word on Sports Draft Profile on Styles by Drew Crabtree, you will see why he is a good fit.
Last Word on Sports: Sonny Styles NFL Draft Profile
Run Game and Passing Coverage Threat
One of the biggest reasons Styles makes sense in Washington is his positional flexibility. Drew Crabtree described Styles as “a safety in a linebacker’s body,” emphasizing the rare athletic profile that allows him to be a disruptor on both pass coverage and the run game. In the modern-day NFL, there are more athletic tight ends and receiving backs, so this type of hybrid skill set makes Styles a huge asset to the Commanders.
Tackling Is Not an Issue
Missed tackles were a big roadblock in the Commanders’ quest to become a contender in the NFC East last season. According to Crabtree, Styles “does not miss tackles, either in traffic or in the open field.” Washington needs some consistent tackling at the second level, and Styles has the right skill set to provide that.
A Rare Physical Specimen
Crabtree noted that “teams are going to fall in love with his sheer athleticism.” When you look at styles, he is a rare physical specimen that stands out among the rest of the pack. Styles has a blend of speed, explosiveness, and overall size that makes him easily a first-round prospect. Washington’s defense needs an able-bodied individual to act as a leader and playmaker. With veteran linebackers and edge rushers like Bobby Wagner and Von Miller likely moving on, the Commanders could use some youthful energy to replace that veteran leadership.
Wise Beyond His Years?
Usually, it takes some time to identify a player’s football intelligence, especially at the pro level. Crabtree indicated that Styles’ football IQ may earn him the opportunity to become a signal caller early in his NFL career. He stated that Styles “could be trusted to be the green dot as a rookie.” Placing that responsibility on a rookie or a young defender entering the league is rare.
Sonny Styles to Washington: Long-Term Contributor
Lastly, it appears that Styles has some long-term upside. In his bottom line, Crabtree noted that whichever team drafts Styles could be getting a “multi-year star” with “future Pro Bowler written all over him.” Any team drafting inside the top ten is looking for exactly this kind of star power. The Commanders have a very definitive need on defense, and that is a linebacker with consistent tackling that has youth on his side. Sonny Styles may be exactly the right person for the job.