Feb. 12, 2026, 10:59 p.m. ET
The Super Bowl is over, so now everybody can turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Washington Commanders currently own the No. 7 pick in the first round of the draft, and most mock drafts have had the team selecting a defender. Head coach Dan Quinn moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. this offseason, and it’s clear the unit needs to get younger and faster as a whole.
Luckily, the top of this draft is loaded with talented defenders. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports recently published an updated mock draft, and Podell has the Commanders landing arguably the best Bobby Wagner replacement possible.
In Podell’s mock, the Commander snag Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7. Regarding that potential pick, Podell offered the following analysis:
Styles is the perfect modern inside linebacker. He played his first two seasons at Ohio State as a safety before transitioning to linebacker, so he comes ready to roll in pass coverage. Styles is able to remain in range of slot receivers in the seam, and he can go step for step with tight ends from sideline to sideline. His wingspan allows him to have nice range as a tackler in the run and pass games. Styles blitzes with a jetpack attached to his back, easily steamrolling running backs attempting to pick him up in pass protection. Styles is a slam-dunk replacement for an aging Bobby Wagner, who is headed for free agency.
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As Podell mentioned, Styles may just be the perfect modern inside linebacker. Styles has experience playing safety and he has plenty of speed to cover the middle of the field. The Ohio State product is also physical enough to meet ballcarriers at the line of scrimmage.
In 2025, Styles played in 14 games for the Buckeyes and racked up 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. The linebacker also remarkably didn’t miss a single tackle in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Styles was even better in 2024, as he finished that campaign with 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
The linebacker’s blend of coverage skills, tackling, and pass-rush ability could make him the perfect fit for the middle of Quinn’s defense.
It’s clear that the Commanders cannot start Wagner again in 2025. Wagner is one of the best inside backers of all time, but he’s clearly lost a step at this point. Plus, Wagner is a free agent, and there’s no guarantee he will be back in Washington anyway.
The Commanders have plenty of needs, but Styles could be a leader on defense and a starter for the next decade.