Commanders Insider Issues Major Sonny Styles Update
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders hope Sonny Styles will be a major part of their defense in the 2026 NFL season. Washington drafted Styles with the seventh overall pick, and he’ll look to contribute right away even as a rookie.
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During his four seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Styles had 142 solo tackles, 97 assists, 9.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interception in 53 games, per StatMuse. As a result, he’ll be looking to translate his college production to the NFL.
On the Aug. 21 edition of “NFL Spotlight With Ari Meirov,” Washington Post Reporter Tashan Reed shared what he’s seen from Styles in training camp.
“He’s moved around a little bit in practice,” Reed said. “We’ve seen him lined up at Mike and Will linebacker at different times. It seems like him and Frankie Luvu are going to be the two guys that are out there most of the time when they’re in their nickel package with two linebackers on the field.
“He’s a guy that, just looking at him, you can see why he was the seventh overall pick. The combination of height, athleticism and speed is really something that’s hard to find at any position. I think it really shines when he’s back there in pass coverage, which has been an issue for the Commanders for a couple years.”
Sonny Styles Fills Concern for Commanders in Recent Years
Moreover, Reed believes that Styles will address a major issue that the Commanders have had in recent years regarding their linebacker group.
“Their linebackers have been able to get picked on a little bit and haven’t been able to carry running backs, tight ends and slot receivers,” Reed added. “[Styles is] a guy that’s certainly capable of that.
“I think his background as a former safety helps not just with his ability, but also his understanding of coverage schemes and knowing what he needs to do as a linebacker, but also knowing what will stress the safeties behind him and trying to account for that.”
Given where Washington drafted him this past offseason, Reed noted there’s a level that Styles needs to play at to justify the Commanders taking him with the seventh overall pick.
“I think he’s a guy that, when you take a linebacker that high, it puts a lot of expectation on them,” Reed said. “You basically have to be a Fred Warner-caliber linebacker, which sounds crazy, but it’s what it is when you draft an off-ball linebacker that high nowadays in today’s NFL.”
Sonny Styles on His Performance in Preseason Opener
Styles has one preseason game under his belt, but he isn’t happy about it, as it wasn’t up to the standard he sets for himself.
“It didn’t go the way I wanted,” Styles said about his performance. “Look, I didn’t think it was up to my standard. But I mean, it’s the first game. First game out there. Kind of figuring out the routine of an NFL game. Getting a feel of just my first time in the stadium. So I just want to keep getting better. But yeah, definitely wasn’t up to my standard.”
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