The Washington Commanders spent their final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, No. 223 overall in the seventh round, on a potential future backup quarterback for Jayden Daniels. Washington selected Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis.
The Commanders actually hosted Kaliakmanis on an official top-30 visit in March.
A 6-foot-3, 213-pound passer began his college career at Minnesota before spending his final two years at Rutgers. Kaliakmanis redshirted his freshman season at Minnesota and appeared in 11 games, with five starts, as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 before taking over as the full-time starter in 2023. He started 25 games for the Scarlet Knights over the last two seasons, finishing his collegiate career with 48 games played and 42 starts.
Kaliakmanis joins a Washington quarterback room with only Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota projected to make the 53-man roster in 2026. Sam Hartman remains on Washington's 90-man roster and will compete with Kaliakmanis to be the Commanders' third-string quarterback next season.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders pick Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis in NFL Draft
