Commanders select Ohio State LB Sonny Styles with the 7th pick in the NFL draft

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, a much-needed addition for a defense that ranked last in the league last season.

Styles played 55 games and made 41 starts over his four years with the Buckeyes. He was a co-captain as a senior in 2025 and led the team with 82 tackles and 46 solo tackles. The 21-year-old earned first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors.

Upon leaving the team facility recently, he told Dan Quinn he hoped he’d see the Commanders’ coach soon. Turns out, he was right.

“I told my whole family this morning, I was like, ‘I’m gonna be a Commander,'” Styles said on a video call with local reporters. “I just had this feeling.”

Commanders general manager Adam Peters said he initially didn’t think Styles would be available at No. 7, but did not hesitate when the linebacker was still on the board.

“He’s the type of person who will reach whatever potential he has,” Peters said. “He’s humble, he’s driven, he checks every box, so that made it an easy pick.”

As a junior in 2024, Styles started all 16 games for Ohio State en route to a national championship. Styles finished the year with 100 total tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Styles began his career in Columbus as a safety before switching to linebacker in the spring of 2024. Moving closer to the line of scrimmage was initially an adjustment for him, but the new position allowed him to unlock more of his potential.

The Commanders don’t have another pick until the third round after trading their second-rounder to Houston last March as part of the trade to get standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

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