Head coach Dan Quinn explains why the Washington Commanders are deeper and more versatile within the linebacker room while shedding some light into the defense under Daronte Jones
The decision to select Sonny Styles with the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft has allowed fans to picture what could become of the linebacker room for the Washington Commanders in 2026.
Head coach Dan Quinn raved about the newest Buckeye in the organization after noting he's "an ideal fit for how we want to play, the style we want to be about" during an appearance on 106.7.
"Super easy decision for Adam," Quinn added.
The Styles' selection came roughly five weeks after the team inked former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, giving the Commanders statistically the most athletic linebacker tandem in the NFL and among the best in NFL history. While Quinn has highlighted Styles' 'green dot' potential for Washington, the addition of Chenal adds instant impact potential to the front seven.
"The guy can absolutely fly. He's a secure tackler and square," Quinn said of Chenal.
How that translates into production and efficiency, especially in year one with Daronte Jones leading the defense, is another question. Yet the addition also adds to depth at the position with Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee and Kain Madrano returning in 2026.
Washington will get a chance "to use them all" - which includes Luvu.
"You’ll see three backer packages a good bit of the time. All three of them have the length and speed and demeanor to blitz, which is a big advantage when you can bring different people from multiple spots," he added.
The linebacker room will have depth to lean on around them with Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson and Tim Settle restocking the top of the front seven after the front office brought back others like Dorrance Armstrong and Drake Jackson.
How the linebacker snap count distribution ultimately plays out through the 2026 season could be an underrated storyline as Chenal and Styles look to serve as unofficial co-leaders of the unit. The duo will look to anchor a defense that will be tested early with four of the NFL's top ten scoring offenses from last season among the first eight opponents on Washington's 2026 schedule.
For a defense that ranked among the worst in the NFL in 2025, it was the type of attention that was needed this offseason with a vastly improved outlook ahead of 2026. Washington will get a chance to turn up the tempo with offseason installs with OTAs set to begin next on Friday, May 29 for the first of three weekends, but Dan Quinn was quick to point out how the additional depth adds "different versatility at different spots."
"You're going to see that on the edges from Odafe and [K’Lavon Chaisson] and [Dorrance Armstrong], you'll see it at backer with the three of the guys we just mentioned, and Jordan Magee. So, in the front seven, we've got real versatility to move guys into different locations, different spots, and Leo is very much in the forefront of our thinking regarding that as well."
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