Washington finally has the kind of linebacker speed it spent the offseason chasing, and Sonny Styles is already forcing people around the league to notice.
The Commanders knew they needed more juice in the middle after Bobby Wagner’s lack of speed became a clear issue in his 14th NFL season in 2025. Teams kept going after him in coverage. General manager Adam Peters made “younger and faster” a priority, and Styles has become the clearest example of that shift.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft arrived with a reputation as something close to the modern linebacker ideal. At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, the former safety brings a rare mix: he runs like a wide receiver, hits like a linebacker and covers like a defensive back.
Five games into his NFL career, he’s backed up the hype. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after Washington’s Week 3 upset win over Seattle, and now he’s headed into his first prime-time game when the Commanders visit the undefeated 49ers on Monday night.
That matchup has drawn plenty of attention from San Francisco’s side, too. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak made it clear Styles is on the radar.
“Big time," when Kubiak was asked if Styles stands out to him. "He’s already a heck of a player.
The athleticism is what jumps out. The length for his size, his speed, his athleticism playing that inside linebacker role.
He can kind of do it all. He can rush, he can blitz, he can cover.
He’s long. He’s going to get his hands on balls.
So the guy’s a heck of a player. He’s going to be a bright player."
Kubiak took it a step further and drew a direct line to Fred Warner, the 49ers’ four-time All-Pro inside linebacker.
"Reminds me a little bit of Fred in that way, just the athleticism, the range. He’s a good player and they got two really good linebackers with [Washington Commanders LB Frankie] Luvu in there too. So definitely got our work cut out for us keeping our eye on those guys this week.”
For Washington fans who have spent years waiting for their own Fred Warner, Styles is starting to look like the answer. He still has ground to cover before he reaches Warner’s level, but the early signs are hard to miss.
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