Washington Commanders select Sonny Styles, linebacker from Ohio State, with No. 7 pick in 2026 NFL Draft

AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterNFL Draft UpdatesThe BeastConsensus RankingsTop 300 Rankings7-Round Draft Order2026 NFL Draft Sonny Styles led Ohio State with 82 tackles in his final college season. Michael Reaves / Getty Images Share article1The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Washington Commanders made Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles the No. 7 pick of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. He was the third Buckeyes player selected in the top seven. Styles’ journey to becoming one of the top linebackers in the NFL Draft was a long one. He arrived in Columbus early, skipping his senior year of high school, and was originally a safety for the Buckeyes when he joined the team in 2022. He moved to linebacker in 2024 and showed off the elite athleticism that made him a five-star prospect out of high school, in addition to making big strides as a run-stopper. After just one year as a starting linebacker, he thought about going to the NFL Draft, but he returned for another year of experience and improved his draft stock immensely. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Styles had 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and interception in 2025, patrolling the middle of the field. One of the best games of his career came against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, when he had a career-high 12 tackles. The son of 1995 third-round pick Lorenzo Styles, Sonny Styles ran a 4.46 40 and more than showed his skills can transfer to the NFL. Styles ranked No. 4 on Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: “Styles is a freaky height/weight/speed athlete with fluid change of direction and the playmaking range to cover every blade of grass. He processes quickly and delivers pop at contact as a downhill player, rarely missing tackles thanks to his ability to violently overwhelm the ball carrier.” Freaky athlete on track to be an impact linebacker. What an anonymous running backs coach had to say about Styles in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft: “On the film, he’s massive. They just stuck Sonny in the middle and let him roam. He was really good and he can fly, but you didn’t feel him as much as you did Arvell (Reese).” Come back later for more analysis of Styles. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms