‘Sade,’ ‘Fat Man’ and ‘Sonny’: Meet the new Commanders’ draft picks

From a linebacker named after a character from “The Godfather” to a running back best known as “Fat Man,” the Washington Commanders added a handful of characters in the weekend’s NFL draft.

The Commanders drafted six players as the franchise looks to rebound from a disappointing 5-12 campaign last season.

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was the gem of the class. Washington nabbed him with the No. 7 overall pick after he unexpectedly slid out of the top five.

“It was an easy pick when he was there and we were on the clock,” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said.

The athletic phenom was the breakout star of the NFL’s annual scouting performance with blazing-fast 40-yard dash and shuttle times. Styles has room to grow in his ability to read opposing offenses and lead his fellow defenders, but coach Dan Quinn is thrilled to help him on that journey.

“He’s got demonstrated ability playing zone and man,” Washington’s coach said of the former safety. “It adds a lot of value because you can keep both safeties high; you can disguise more, make more plays in that sense.”

Styles, whose given name is Alexander, received the nickname “Sonny” as a two-year-old. His older brother, new New Orleans Saints defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr., was already known as “Son.”

Styles’ father, a former NFL linebacker, landed on “Sonny” in honor of James Caan’s short-tempered character from “The Godfather.”

Styles is the most recognizable name among the new Commanders, but Peters and Quinn will hope to see their other rookies become contributors as well.

Wide receiver Antonio Williams: Washington added Williams, a Clemson product, with its lone third-round selection. The South Carolina native spent most of his college career in the slot, racking up 208 catches and 2,336 yards across four seasons as a starter.

Despite standing 5 feet, 11 inches, Williams will not be limited to a role as an inside receiver in Washington.

“If he was 6-2, he’d be a first-round pick. He plays long,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s a finisher on the ball. He’s an elite returner. He’s got special teams ability. He’s a really, really smart, instinctual, savvy player. He understands space, he understands defense. He’s a student of the game. He’s technically refined. I think that he can run the entire route tree.”

The Commanders desperately needed pass-catching help. The group behind Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin was uncomfortably thin after the departure of Deebo Samuel. The depth chart currently relies on unproven commodities like second-year receiver Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson.

Williams, Peters noted, is a “smooth operator.”

“His nickname is going to be ‘Sade.’ We’re going to call him that forever now,” Peter said, referring to the singer’s hit 1984 song. “He makes it look easy and his speed is easy. You see a really technique-sound, smooth player out there.”

Edge rusher Joshua Josephs: The Tennessee pass-rusher gives the Commanders, who drafted him in the fifth round, another rotational piece on the defensive line.

Josephs has what many scouts would call “long levers,” as his 34 3/4-inch arms dwarf the limbs of any other pass rusher selected over the weekend. Those lengthy arms allow him to initiate contact with offensive linemen and disrupt their rhythm.

“You feel the arm length in everything he does,” Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark said, noting that Joseph’s wingspan could lead to tipped passes, forced fumbles or chasedown tackles. “The length just always seems to factor in.”

The 22-year-old is still a relatively raw prospect, recording just 9 1/2 sacks in his four seasons with Tennessee, but he won’t be expected to start immediately. The Commanders signed Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency to anchor their pass rush for the upcoming season.

Running back Kaytron Allen: Don’t call the Penn State running back, who the Commanders drafted with their first of two sixth-round picks, by his birth name.

“I prefer Fat Man,” Allen explained. “That’s the nickname my mom gave me when I was a [kid.] I was a fat baby and everybody in the town called me Fat Man and hopefully I keep it going in Washington.”

Allen — who stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 217 pounds — is a well-built runner who could shrug off tacklers in college.

During his All-American campaign last year, the Virginia native tallied 15 touchdowns and 1,303 rushing yards with an impressive 6.2 yards per carry average.

He projects as a power back for a Washington running back room led by Jacory Croskey-Merritt — the former seventh-round pick who rushed for 805 yards as a rookie — and the newly signed Rachaad White, who has flashed pass-catching prowess out of the backfield.

Allen said he looks forward to sharing a backfield, so long as the fan base understands their role.

“When I score, all you hear is ‘Fat Man,’ you feel me?” he noted. “It’s going to be something special.”

Center Matt Gulbin: The only major question mark on Washington’s offensive line lies at center. The franchise surprisingly released starter Tyler Biadasz this spring, appearing to clear a path for Nick Allegretti, who previously started at guard for the Commanders.

Gulbin, who played at Wake Forest and Michigan State, gives Washington another option inside. The 23-year-old shifted around the line in college, starting 12 games as a center, 11 games as a left guard and 11 games as a right guard.

In Washington, he’ll likely have a chance to compete for the starting center role in training camp.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis: Kaliakmanis, who started at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers, is likely to compete for the third quarterback spot in Washington behind starter Jayden Daniels and veteran Marcus Mariota.

Kaliakamanis saw a sharp rise in efficiency during his final season at Rutgers. His completion percentage surged from 53.9% to 62.2% as he threw for 3,124 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He’s not a significant running threat like Mariota or Daniels, but Kaliakmanis is still expected to compete with the returning Sam Hartman for a backup role in Washington.

“We wanted to see if we can address that position; you’re always looking at that every year to see if somebody makes sense, if you see developmental qualities and how that might create competition,” Newmark said. “He just made a lot of sense on a lot of levels for us.”

Washington’s draftees will look to make a strong first impression when they start rookie minicamp on May 8.