When the Washington Commanders spent the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State linebacker Sonny commanders-sonny-styles-have-the-best-chance-to-win-droy/">Styles, it spelled the end of Bobby Wagner’s tenure in D.C.
Wagner, who turns 36 this month, has played 14 NFL seasons, including the last two for the Commanders and is a future first-ball Pro Football Hall of Famer. However, with Washington’s desire to get younger and faster this offseason, veterans such as Wagner and Zach Ertz were unlikely to return, regardless of how beloved they were throughout the organization.
The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Styles brings something different to Washington. He’s big, fast, smart and the son of a former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion. Styles was born to play in the NFL. A former safety, he moved to linebacker for the final two years of his college career and became an All-American.
It hasn’t taken Styles long to impress his new teammates. Washington began its second week of OTAs on Tuesday, and edge rusher Odafe Oweh, a fellow newcomer, paid the ultimate compliment to Styles.
“He’s like a baby Bobby Wagner,” Oweh said. “In terms of his stature and the way he’s moving. And he’s smart. He articulates himself well. He can communicate the defense, command the huddle and all of that. He has a bright future. I’m looking forward to how he develops and who he becomes.”
Odafe Oweh on Sonny Styles:
“He’s like a baby Bobby Wagner”@JPFinlayNBCS#RaiseHail#Commanderspic.twitter.com/aKDZolLlNs
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) June 2, 2026
That’s a pretty lofty comparison. If Styles has a career remotely close to Wagner’s, then that’s a steal for the Commanders. While Wagner and Styles are built much differently, Styles’ intelligence, football IQ, and character are very reminiscent of Wagner, something head coach Dan Quinn and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. know all too well.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Odafe Oweh with big comparison for Sonny Styles
