Commanders' Sonny Styles poised for immediate success as rookie

Succeeding in the NFL is far from a guarantee. Plenty of first-round picks take time to get adjusted to the NFL, and plenty never pan out at all. However, there are some rookies who just seem like perfect fits on their team and it's hard to imagine them not succeeding.

This is the case with the Washington Commanders and Sonny Styles. The Commanders grabbed Styles with the No. 7 pick, and many immediately felt like the linebacker would be perfect with Dan Quinn. Styles wasn't even expected to last until pick No. 7, with many mock drafts having the Titans grab him at No. 4.

On paper, the fit makes complete sense. The Commanders struggled over the middle last season as it became apparent that Bobby Wagner had lost a step. Now, Styles is primed to step right in and provide the defense with a jolt of energy and athleticism.

NFL.com's Tom Blair recently identified the ten rookies that are in a position to succeed immediately in the NFL. At the No. 1 spot, Blair had Styles, and offered the following rationale:

We already know Styles has the kind of athletic profile that gets folks googly-eyed. Now picture him using his superpowers to flow to the ball as the dynamic young centerpiece of Quinn's fortified defense. When Quinn says he "can't wait to coach" Styles, it might soundlike boilerplate offseason hype, but in Quinn's case, I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually counting how many sleeps are left before he gets to work his prized new pupil into a defense that finished 31st in EPA per play last season, per Next Gen Stats.