One can only imagine the tense atmosphere in the Washington Commanders' draft room when linebacker Sonny Styles was inching closer to the No. 7 pick. No matter how much they loved the prospect, general manager Adam Peters didn't have the disposable capital to move up.
He didn't need to. Styles fell all the way to No. 7, and the rest is history. The Commanders got their man, and the intrigue of placing him on Washington's revamped defense under new coordinator Daronte Jones is a tantalizing proposition.
And the move got a massive vote of confidence from one of the most respected head coaches of the modern era.
Some experts thought the Commanders would focus on a dynamic weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels. Had running back Jeremiyah Love and wide receiver Carnell Tate not gone in the first four picks, they may have done. But this doesn't detract from the fact that those in power were on Styles throughout their comprehensive assessments.
Bill Cowher believes Commanders have found their new cerebral assassin in Sonny Styles
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Cowher, who was working as an analyst on the Pat McAfee Show during the first round, between Styles in Washington. But instead of focusing on his exceptional athletic traits, he centered his praise on the cerebral element and his management of defensive adjustments at Ohio State.
"Give me a guy that can operate the defense and make the adjustments, which he did under Matt Patricia. He would actually just make adjustments on the field. In his own mind, he saw the formations.
"So this guy is a general. He's a quarterback on the defensive side of the ball. He's a great pick, and he's playing for Dan Quinn."
Playing the linebacker position is much more than just coming downhill and attacking the ball carriers. Styles is constantly evolving, but he was visibly more comfortable across the board during the 2025 campaign.
He was the Buckeyes' defensive linchpin, with the intelligence to adapt formations to the offense's alignment. Considering the Commanders aren't expected to bring veteran Bobby Wagner back, Styles could be a ready-made long-term replacement if everything goes well.
Styles is a natural in every way. One only has to hear how teammates and coaches speak about him to get a glimpse of that. Establishing yourself quickly in an NFL locker room with seasoned pros can be a daunting task for any rookie, especially one with such high expectations. But he's got the temperament and focus to take everything in his stride.
Cowher believes the Commanders might be onto something here, and it's not hard to see why.