Washington Commanders rookie Sonny Styles could become a household name in the near future.
The first-round linebacker was named to the NFL Players Association’s annual Rising Stars list on Tuesday alongside Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Chicago Bears second-year tight end Colston Loveland.
The list features 10 rookies and 10 veterans who are ranked based on a combination of on-field performance alongside social media following, college brand deals and the size of their teams’ market.
“The Rising Stars list is our view into where the market is headed,” Matt Curtin, president of NFL Players Inc., said in a statement. “We are looking at the players that fans are connecting with today and the ones we believe are poised for significant growth.”
Mendoza led the first-year players. He was followed by Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate and Philadelphia Eagles pass catcher Makai Lemon.
Styles, the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft, ranked sixth.
The list of veterans included New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, Loveland, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
Running back Kenneth Walker, who was named this year’s Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason, also made the list.
Veterans are eligible only if they haven’t previously appeared on the NFLPA’s Top 50 Players Sales List. That ranking, released each spring, tracks the amount of merchandise sales that each player is responsible for.
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