March 4, 2026, 5:33 a.m. ET

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles had an NFL combine to remember last week. Styles measured in at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, recorded a 43.5″ vertical leap and a 135″ broad jump. Don’t worry, this isn’t a case of Styles being the latest combine star who will be overdrafted based on physical traits alone.

What Styles did in Indianapolis last week matched what teams saw on tape. He’s fast, athletic, hard-hitting, instinctive, smart, and versatile. Styles also possesses high character and has NFL bloodlines, being the son of former Ohio State and NFL linebacker Lorenzo Styles.

Styles went into the week as a projected top-15 pick. He left Indianapolis with a chance of landing in the top five. The Washington Commanders have been linked to Styles in various mock drafts over the past few weeks. Now, there’s a chance that Styles doesn’t make it No. 7 overall.

One team in front of Washington that could impact draft plans are NFC East rival, the New York Giants. New York holds the No. 5 overall pick and is wide open about the position or player it will draft. Many believe that Styles may be too hard to pass up for new head coach John Harbaugh. The veteran coach spent years in Baltimore and is accustomed to having a standout middle linebacker. Styles would be a phenomenal addition to a defensive front that already features Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter.

The Giants made a move on Tuesday that had many wondering if their sights were already set on Styles. New York released veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke, clearing the way for Styles to start in the middle of the defense.

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What does this mean for the Commanders? Well, if Styles is their preferred choice, that dream would be over. But it’s not quite that simple. New York’s release of Okereke was necessary, saving them around $9 million against the salary cap in 2026. Before the move, Over the Cap had the Giants with only $1.8 million in projected salary cap space.

Additionally, the Giants aren’t guaranteed to land Styles. There are four picks ahead of them in April’s NFL draft: the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. The Raiders are not taking Styles, but in an unpredictable draft, could you rule out the Jets, Cardinals, or Titans? New York can’t plan its offseason around a player it might not land.

So, if you’re a Washington fan still hoping for Sonny Styles, that dream remains alive for now.