The Washington Commanders have options in the 2026 NFL Draft as Mel Kiper Jr. projects a star defender to come off the board with the seventh overall pick
With free agency already one week in and several additions already announced by the organization, the debate has gradually shifted from which available free agents are still viable upgrades along the roster to who the focus should be in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The first round kicks off in exactly 37 days with a chance to add another playmaker to the roster. But the growing question has been whether it will come on offense or defense.
The Washington Commanders has made a pair of moves at wide receiver with both Van Jefferson and Dyami Brown signing one year deals to upgrade the floor of the unit, but who steps in as the second wide receiver opposite of veteran Terry McLaurin has been an ongoing question. The Commanders were reportedly a finalist for both Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs before Pierce opted to re-sign in Indianapolis and Doubs signing with New England. ESPN's draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. didn't rule former Ohio State star wide receiver Carnell Tate landing in Washington, but instead, defense won out with another Buckeye playmaker projected to come off the board with the seventh overall pick.
Kiper projected linebacker Sonny Styles to be drafted by the Commanders with the seventh overall pick, potentially giving the front seven a game-changer after signing Leo Chenal, Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson.
"The Commanders couldn't stop anyone last season, and linebacker Bobby Wagner appears to be headed elsewhere as a free agent. Bringing in Styles - my No. 6 prospect regardless of position - to team up with Frankie Luvu and new addition Leo Chenal makes some sense. After a 77-tackle season, Styles posted an incredible 43½-inch vertical jump at the combine, a glimpse into his explosion. Washington needs good ball players, and Styles is just that."
Styles has been consistently viewed as a top ten draft pick after ending his time as a Buckeye as both a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media. Styles will also turn 22 in November, adding more youth to a defense in dire need of getting younger, despite starting in 41 games through his college career and being named co-captain as a senior.
Kiper projected Styles to land in Washington after also projecting former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to come off the board to the Tennessee Titans with the fourth overall pick, followed by Styles' teammate, safety Caleb Downs, coming off the board to the New York Giants with the fifth pick. But with veteran Bobby Wagner expected to play elsewhere in 2026, Styles would serve as the latest weapon in what could be one of the better front sevens across the NFL.