Washington Commanders add Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis with 223rd pick in 2026 NFL Draft

The Washington Commanders picked Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis with the 223rd pick in 2026 NFL Draft, adding to a quarterbacks room led by third-year star Jayden Daniels and veteran backup Marcus Mariota.Kaliakmanis, a state champion long jumper in Illinois, started his college career at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers for his final two seasons. Kaliakmanis’ play took a jump in 2025 with improved accuracy and decision-making. He had 28 completions of 20-plus yards in 2025, one fewer than Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in this draft. He also completed 62 percent of his passes in 2025 for 3,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.Advertisement