ESPN projects the Washington Commanders to turn to the defense in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
With the 2026 NFL Draft inching closer, ESPN released its updated mock draft on Tuesday morning with a former Buckeye star projected to head to the Washington Commanders.
And it is not wide receiver Carnell Tate, either.
Peter Schrager's latest mock draft points to Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles as the pick in his intel-based mock draft.
"I believe Washington is going to go defense; it gave up 6.0 yards per play in 2025, tied for third worst," said Scrager. "Styles shows a lot of the same traits that Fred Warner has displayed in San Francisco, and GM Adam Peters -- who came from San Francisco -- knows what Warner has meant for the 49ers all these years."
It would mark another notable boost for a defense that has already added an athletic, versatile linebacker in former Chiefs starter Leo Chenal. Washington also made the pass rush a top priority this offseason like it needed to be with Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu. Head coach Dan Quinn also replenished the interior defensive line by re-signing Shy Tuttle and inking former draft pick Tim Settle, who could serve as a versatile piece in the new defensive scheme under new coordinator Daronte Jones.
Yet Styles would add another impactful piece to the front seven after blossoming into one of the best defenders in college football during the 2025 season. The fifth year senior was named a first team All American while being named a co-captain in 2025, finishing with 82 total tackles and 46 solo to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and four quarterback hurries.
Styles has been consistently tabbed as one of the best defensive prospects in the draft with some pointing to him as the potential second overall pick, joining the debate alongside teammate Arvell Reese and Texas Tech edge David Bailey as the best defensive prospect in the NFL Draft.
General manager Adam Peters also raved about Styles during an appearance on the Kay and Adams Show during the NFL owners meetings last week, adding intrigue to the possible selection.
Should Styles materialize into the pick, questions would remain how the Commanders plan to address the wide receiver room ahead of the 2026 season with a void at the top of the unit between veteran Terry McLaurin and the rest of the room. On the plus side, Styles would become the latest athletic addition to a front seven in desperate need of adding exactly that in year three of the Dan Quinn era.