WAS Athan Kaliakmanis
NFL player. Position: QB. Team: WAS.
Quick Facts
- Position: Quarterback
- Team: WAS (Washington Commanders)
- College: Rutgers (previously Minnesota)
- Draft: 2026 Round 7, Pick 223
2026 Outlook
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was drafted by the Washington Commanders in Round 7 (pick 223) to compete for the backup spot behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. Kaliakmanis brings 42 starts as a Big Ten quarterback, having started his collegiate career at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers for his final two seasons. In 2025 senior season at Rutgers, he finished with a 62% completion rate, threw for over 3,100 yards, and recorded 20 touchdowns. He was bested by only Indiana's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza when it came to completions of 20 or more yards in 2025. Kaliakmanis was a team captain at Rutgers and is expected to compete for the third quarterback spot behind Daniels and the veteran backup Mariota, with long-term developmental potential (per How the Commanders finessed the 2026 NFL Draft to steal massive value).
Role / Depth Chart
Competing for third-string quarterback role behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota; potential developmental backup of the future.
Injury Status
Healthy entering 2026.
Recent News
- 2026-05-07 — The 5 O’Clock Club: One thought on each of the Commanders’ 27 veteran free agents of 2026 (The 5 O’Clock Club: One thought on each of the Commanders’ 27 veteran free agents of 2026)
- 2026-06-18 — 2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Last spring practices wrap up (2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Last spring practices wrap up)
- 2026-06-18 — 2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Tua Tagovailoa (2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Tua Tagovailoa)
- 2026-06-17 — 2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Titans' Cam Ward (2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Titans' Cam Ward)
- 2026-04-27 — A closer look at the Washington Commanders’ roster after the NFL Draft (A closer look at the Washington Commanders’ roster after the NFL Draft)
- 2026-04-25 — Packers 2026 NFL Draft: Day 3 Analysis (Packers 2026 NFL Draft: Day 3 Analysis)
- 2026-05-21 — Ranking all 18 Big Ten football teams from worst to first after spring practice (Ranking all 18 Big Ten football teams from worst to first after spring practice)
- 2026-04-23 — Broncos NFL Draft Big Board: Top Targets for Every Round (Broncos NFL Draft Big Board: Top Targets for Every Round)
- 2026-04-03 — NFL Draft Preview: Patriots Could Seek Developmental Quarterback (NFL Draft Preview: Patriots Could Seek Developmental Quarterback)
- 2026-04-28 — State of Washington's post-draft roster (State of Washington's post-draft roster)
Open Questions
- Can Kaliakmanis develop into a viable NFL backup?
- Will his Big Ten production translate to the professional level?