The Washington Commanders may have landed a generational talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, and according to one NFL executive, linebacker Sonny Styles is drawing comparisons to some of the greatest to ever play the game.

Leading up to the draft, it was no secret that the Commanders had their eyes on the Ohio State standout. While names like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love were also in the mix, Washington's front office knew securing Styles would be a challenge at the No. 7 overall pick. When Love went off the board at No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, things started to look promising. But the real shock came at No. 4, when the Tennessee Titans surprisingly selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, triggering a chain reaction that sent another Buckeye, Arvell Reese, to the New York Giants at No. 5.

Then came a twist: the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to No. 6 for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, fearing the Commanders or New Orleans Saints might snatch him. But Washington had their sights set elsewhere. General Manager Adam Peters wasn't about to pass on Styles if he fell—and he did.

The pick was met with widespread acclaim across the league. In a recent review of all 32 draft classes by The Athletic's Mike Sando, anonymous NFL executives shared their thoughts, and one comparison stands out above the rest.

"He is Bobby Wagner, but bigger and faster," one exec said. "He has as good of traits for an inside linebacker as I have ever seen."

Wagner, a future Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant linebackers of his era, is an impressive benchmark. But the praise didn't stop there.

"Brian Urlacher, maybe," the exec added. "He is 6-5, 240 pounds, gonna run 4.4. Really smart, makes all the calls, very instinctive and has some untapped pass-rush ability. He was top-five on our board all the way."

Urlacher, a Hall of Famer and the face of the Chicago Bears' defense for over a decade, is the kind of comparison that turns heads. For Commanders fans, the prospect of a linebacker with the instincts of Wagner and the physical tools of Urlacher is nothing short of electrifying. As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on Styles to see if he can live up to the hype—and perhaps carve out his own legacy in burgundy and gold.