Sonny Styles' Commanders Jersey Number Revealed, NFL Rookie Explains Decision Behind Pick

Washington Commanders rookie linebacker Sonny Styles will wear the No. 52 jersey with the team.

Styles explained how his status as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft factored into his decision.

"I'm not really a big number guy," Styles told reporters Friday, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "Like, I wasn't really big into single digits. I like zero. Mikey has zero. So then, like, I was telling [linebackers] coach [Ken Norton] like when I look in the room [with] London on the wall, London Fletcher, LaVar [Arrington]. I think it was Ken Harvey and Monte Coleman. It was all like 50 numbers. And I was like, 'Shoot, I'm gonna pick a 50 number.' And I was thinking about it. You know, I remember growing up watching like Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis. So like, hey, 52 would be cool. And then my dad was like, 'Hey, five plus two is seven, so that's your draft pick.' So I was like, man, that's cool. It seems pretty cool. So that's really how I landed on it."

Styles wore No. 0 during his 2025 season at Ohio State, although Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil currently owns the number.

Expectations are high for Styles, who is expected to provide a boost to a Washington squad that ranked No. 32 in the NFL by allowing 384.0 total yards per game last season.

He wrapped up a stellar 2025 campaign with the Buckeyes, recording 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception in 14 appearances.