NFL insider's mock gives Commanders perfect Bobby Wagner replacement

Rejoice football fans, because the 2026 NFL Draft is almost here. After months of speculation, we'll finally be able to actually see who the next Commanders will be.

Even as we get closer to the draft, though, there still isn't a consensus on who the Washington Commanders will take. Most mocks still have the team adding a defender even after the team invested heavily on that side of the ball in free agency. There are plenty of impact players on defense that should be available for the Commanders, but there are plenty of holes on offense, too.

However, there may be a defender available at No. 7 who's just too good to pass up. ESPN's Peter Schrager recently published his updated mock, and he has the Commanders taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Regarding this pick, Schrager offered the following:

I believe Washington is going to go defense; it gave up 6.0 yards per play in 2025, tied for third worst. Styles shows a lot of the same traits that Fred Warner has displayed in San Francisco, and GM Adam Peters -- who came from San Francisco -- knows what Warner has meant for the 49ers all these years. Styles had 77 tackles as a sideline-to-sideline defender last season and then lit up the combine with a smooth 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and a 43½-inch vertical jump. I like this fit.

As Schrager mentioned, the Commanders still need to improve on defense and Styles has the potential to completely transform the unit. Styles could be an elite inside linebacker and a perfect replacement for Bobby Wagner.

In 2025, Styles played in 14 games and collected 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. The defender excels in coverage, never misses tackles, and has an excellent football IQ. As a former safety, Styles has better ball skills than most off-ball linebackers and also isn't afraid to meet ball carriers at the line of scrimmage.

As Schrager said, Styles is reminiscent of great 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. Imagine a prime Fred Warner on the Commanders' defense, and it's hard not to get excited.

If Styles is available, it's hard to see the Commanders passing him up. The offense needs help too, but a healthy Jayden Daniels and a good defense should be to contend in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders snag elite Ohio State defender in latest mock draft