Commanders HC Dan Quinn Talks Sonny Styles, Jayden Daniels & More with Rich

Dan Quinn walked into The Rich Eisen Show with a draft class he could not stop talking about, and at the top of that list sat his new linebacker.

The Washington Commanders head coach told Rich that when Sonny Styles was still on the board at seventh overall, he did not need extra time to think. Kansas City had traded above Washington, and once that move cleared the way, Quinn said the decision was simple.

"Man, here we go," Quinn remembered thinking when the Chiefs jumped up.

Rich called Styles a mixture of monster and humility, and Quinn agreed it is a rare combination at the position. Rich, who has covered more than 20 years of combines on NFL Network, said the linebacker's workout was one of the few he has ever called the best he has seen.

Quinn called himself a developmental coach and said he could not wait to start. He plans to use Styles in zone schemes that give him vision to the quarterback, and he wants to send him as a blitzer in ways Ohio State did not. The coverage piece, Quinn said, is already intact because of the time Styles spent at safety. Green dot reps are on the table during practice.

There is a generational note in this pick too. Styles' father was teammates with London Fletcher, the Commanders icon, and the two reconnected during the visit.

"Significant franchise connective tissue," Rich called it.

Rich shared his own Sonny moment from combine week. After the workout, Styles ran into an NFL Network producer at the team hotel restaurant. The producer told him he had a great workout. Styles, fresh off the field, looked the producer in the eye and asked if he really thought so. Not sarcastic. Genuine.

Quinn said it tracked with everything he learned meeting Styles and his family.

"He's got really high standards," Quinn said.

The coach also walked through the rest of the class. Wide receiver Antonio Williams out of Clemson brings what Quinn called elite quickness inside and out of breaks. Edge rusher Josh Joseph caught the staff's eye in the fifth round for his width and get-off. Penn State all-time leading rusher Kron Allen fits a zone-heavy scheme. Interior lineman Matt Goldman will move to center. The class also added a quarterback to compete behind Sam.

On Jayden Daniels, Quinn said the third-year quarterback is coming back with extra hunger after an injury-shortened year. He pushes Daniels not with media noise but with internal standards, ball location and accuracy in practice.

"I'm qualified to do that push," Quinn said.

Rich asked about the veterans. Von Miller, Quinn said, could coach the interior pass rushers if he wanted to, the way he breaks down hand placement and technique. Bobby Wagner remains one of the best leaders Quinn has ever been around, and the coach said when he thinks of tackling, he thinks of Wagner. Zach Ertz is grinding through rehab.

Rich and Quinn also weighed in on the new shorter draft clock. Quinn was a fan. Rich was not. The host described doing cardio behind the desk trying to keep up with the pace.

"Television first class problems," Rich called it, before telling Quinn he would take it up with Roger Goodell.