The Washington Commanders didn't just stumble upon Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick—they had their eyes on him long before he became a household name. In fact, their scouting mission began when Styles was still a lanky 17-year-old safety at Ohio State, back in 2022.

At that time, Commanders general manager Adam Peters was serving as the assistant GM for the San Francisco 49ers. A sharp-eyed area scout pointed out the young Buckeye, saying simply, "That's Sonny Styles." That moment planted a seed that would grow into a full-blown draft strategy.

Styles didn't waste any time proving his worth. He became a starter the following season, and Peters made sure to track his every move. When Styles switched to linebacker in 2024, his game reached new heights. Over two seasons as a starting linebacker for Ohio State, he racked up 182 tackles—including seven for loss—along with seven sacks, one interception, and eight passes defensed. His performance earned him All-Big Ten honors and a first-team All-American nod in 2025. He also played a pivotal role in the Buckeyes' 2024 national championship run.

But what truly sealed the deal for Washington was Styles' final season at Ohio State, where he played under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia—a familiar face to Peters. The two go way back, having worked together in New England two decades ago. Over the past few months, Peters and Patricia had extensive conversations, and Patricia couldn't stop raving about Styles' communication skills, his character as a teammate, and his overall makeup as a person.

Patricia's pro-style scheme also gave Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones—who previously worked under Patricia's former colleague Brian Flores in Minnesota—a clear look at how Styles would fit into an NFL defense. Any lingering doubts about his transition to the pros were quickly erased. For Washington, Styles' lone season under Patricia was essentially his audition for the big stage—and he passed with flying colors.