The Commanders officially added nine undrafted free agents to their roster yesterday. Their list of rookies on the books now includes the team’s top selection.
Linebacker Sonny Styles signed his rookie deal on Friday, per a team announcement. He’ll collect $37.2MM fully guaranteed over the subsequent 4 years. That features a $23.9MM signing bonus. Washington could keep Styles under team control through 2030 via the fifth-year option.
The Commanders entered last month’s draft in need of defensive upgrades, so it got here as little surprise once they took Styles off the board seventh overall. The Ohio State standout was widely considered certainly one of the highest players in the category, although like others in that respect he was the topic of questions regarding his positional value. Washington didn’t expect Styles to still be available at No. 7, but he will probably be counted on to operate as an impactful presence on the second level early and sometimes in his profession.
A converted safety, Styles thrived when playing at linebacker with the Buckeyes. He racked up 182 tackles, seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss across the 2024 and ’25 seasons, and high-end production on the NFL level would go a good distance in bringing about defensive improvements for Washington. The team added Leo Chenal during free agency on a three-year deal, and he and Styles will probably be expected to work as a tandem within the nation’s capital now and in the long run.
The Commanders ranked thirtieth against the run in 2025; Styles could help them improve in that regard while also contributing as a pass rush presence when used as a blitzer. Washington’s rookie minicamp will happen this weekend, giving the team its first have a look at Styles and marking the start of his acclimation to the team’s new-look defense.