March 5, 2026, 3:15 a.m. ET
The Washington Commanders need to improve on defense in 2026.
The team replaced defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with Daronte Jones, and there will undoubtedly be plenty of roster turnover as well. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be released soon, and veterans like Bobby Wagner and Von Miller are headed for free agency.
As a result, most mock drafts have the Commanders selecting a defender with the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Luckily, this draft is loaded with talented defenders at the top, so the Commanders should have plenty of options.
One player who has frequently been mocked to the team is Ohio State star linebacker Sonny Styles. Styles is a true field general on defense who can cover, is a sure tackle, and can even rush the passer.
FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano recently published a mock with the Commanders adding Styles. Regarding that pick, Vacchiano offered the following:
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
With Bobby Wagner turning 36 and likely headed elsewhere, the Commanders need a replacement in the middle of their defense. Styles, the star of the combine, is the perfect fit. He’s a former safety who is an expert at reading offenses and getting into position. He is strong in coverage and can attack as a pass rusher, with great sideline-to-sideline speed.. He can do it all, which makes him the ideal defender to build around as the Commanders try to fix their broken defense.
As Vacchiano mentioned, the Commanders desperately need a Bobby Wagner replacement in the middle of the defense. Getting younger and faster must be a priority, and Styles helps accomplish both things.
In 2025, the linebacker racked up 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles, one sack, and one interception. The defender never misses a tackle and was also a key part of the 2024 Ohio State team that won the championship. In that season, Styles ended with 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
It’s exciting to imagine a player like Styles in this new defensive scheme. If the team also makes some notable additions in free agency, this defense could once again become a strength of the team.