The Washington Commanders selected linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn were very excited that Styles fell to them at No. 7, and it’s not a secret that Styles is stoked to be in Washington.
We’ve all seen Styles say the right things on camera and portray himself as not just a phenomenal football player, but a decent human being. He’s essentially the entire package, and former Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall had some high praise for the rookie linebacker. He was asked about the impact Styles will have on Dan Quinn’s defense.
He is a freaky athlete. He is a guy who can just make all types of plays all over the field.
For the Commanders, it’s just a great situation. They had Bobby Wagner, who will have a gold jacket after his career, in the middle of that defense for a couple of years. He is one of the best pros I’ve seen in a long time. Now they’ve replaced him with Styles, who is a freak athlete.
Wagner is still a free agent. The Commanders could be in a perfect situation if they can find a way to bring him back. He’d be able to teach Styles the process of becoming a great player in the NFL. Styles would learn a lot from Wagner when it comes to how to be a pro, how to take care of his body, and how to break down film.
Athletically, there’s not much that Styles can’t do. He actually reminds me of a young Bobby Wagner when he came into the NFL. Wagner could run with tight ends and cover slot receivers as well.
Styles can go out there and give you the same effect. He can make a lot of things happen for your defense.
Hall goes on to discuss how Dan Quinn handled Micah Parsons in Dallas and how Quinn loves putting players in positions to make plays. Styles will excel beyond expectations when Quinn truly sets him up for success.
DeAngelo Hall spent the bulk of his career in Washington. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler, part of the Commanders’ 90 Greatest, and holds multiple team records to this day. After retiring from the NFL as a player in 2017, Hall became a broadcast analyst for various outlets, including with the Commanders, and spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach for the Carolina Panthers.
Suffice it to say, Hall’s opinion matters, especially in Washington. The Commanders landed themselves a stud in the draft, and there’s no telling how high Styles’ ceiling really is.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Longtime Washington cornerback loves Sonny Styles’ fit with Commanders
