The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and while the early rounds brought the fireworks, the Washington Commanders made a late-round investment that deserves a closer look. With their final selection at Pick No. 223 in the seventh round, Washington added to the most important position on the field: drafting Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis.
While seventh-round signal-callers rarely make national headlines, Kaliakmanis is a fascinating project. Here is a breakdown of what the former Scarlet Knight brings to D.C. and how he fits into the current quarterback room.
Who is Athan Kaliakmanis?
Kaliakmanis spent his first few seasons at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers, where he developed into one of the most reliable passers in recent program history.
During his 2025 senior campaign, he put up stellar numbers in a tough Big Ten conference. He threw for 3,124 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions while completing an efficient 62.2% of his passes. He also added 4 rushing touchdowns on the ground.
Advanced metrics loved his 2025 season, too. He earned an 88.8 overall grade from PFF (ranking 27th out of 302 qualified college quarterbacks) and proved to be an excellent decision-maker under pressure. At 6’3″ and 212 pounds, Kaliakmanis operates with a classic pro-style rhythm. He doesn’t possess elite scrambling mobility, but his incredibly low turnover rate and high football IQ make him an ideal low-risk developmental prospect.
The Washington QB Room: Where Does He Fit?
When you look at the current Commanders quarterback depth chart, the hierarchy is clear:
- QB1: Jayden Daniels – Daniels remains the undisputed focal point of this franchise. As he looks to bounce back from an injury-affected second season, the offense begins and ends with him.
- QB2: Marcus Mariota – Mariota is locked in as the steady, reliable veteran backup who can seamlessly run the offense if Daniels has to miss any time.
- QB3 Battle: Sam Hartman vs. Athan Kaliakmanis – This is where the draft pick gets interesting.
Kaliakmanis isn’t coming to Ashburn to compete for a starting job; he is here to fight for a roster spot and a place on the practice squad. Going head-to-head with Sam Hartman, Kaliakmanis offers a different flavor. While Hartman has experience in the system, Kaliakmanis brings exceptional ball security and extended experience executing a pro-style offense from the pocket (42 career collegiate starts).
NFL evaluators see Kaliakmanis as a high-IQ backup who can quickly learn a playbook and run scout-team offenses with precision. If he shows command of the huddle during training camp and the preseason, he could easily unseat Hartman for the QB3 role.
The Verdict
In the seventh round, you are drafting for upside, depth, and special teams. By grabbing Kaliakmanis at 223, the Commanders took a flier on a player with 8,604 career passing yards and a proven track record of taking care of the football. It’s a smart, calculated move to bolster the bottom of the roster.
