It was a mystery who the Washington Commanders would select at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft all the way up until the team went on the clock Thursday night. Once the Tennessee Titans (No. 4) and New York Giants (No. 5) passed on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, it appeared the stars were aligned for a player that Washington coveted.

That's precisely what happened when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the stage to announce the Commanders had selected the 21-year-old All-American defender. Styles was emotional. In a clip that Washington's social media team later aired, both sides were elated. As for Styles, he said in an ESPN interview after being drafted that he told Washington head coach Dan Quinn he'd see him again soon.

Sometimes, when a player says he wants to be somewhere specific after he's picked, it's simply a case of saying the right thing, or what you want everyone to hear. Not Styles. He truly felt in his gut he'd be a Commander, even revealing as much on the morning of the draft as he sat down for a haircut.

Sonny Styles made the prediction… then he got the call 🔥 @Commanders pic.twitter.com/wfIUsJTKeZ

"My final prediction, the Commanders," Styles said. "Final prediction. We'll see how it goes, though. That's my gut feeling."

Styles trusted his gut, and he was correct. And, in this case, everyone is happy, as Washington got a player it coveted throughout the draft process.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles predicted his NFL destination