What Athan Kaliakmanis offers the Commanders

Athan Kaliakmanis celebrates a 41-14 snow victory against Michigan State

In the seventh round of the NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders selected Athan Kaliakmanis, marking the first Scarlet Knight quarterback drafted since Mike Teel in 2009. While many Washington fans are confused by the pick, Kaliakmanis offers significant value as a late-round flyer. He provides Washington with a strong-armed passer who showcased improved accuracy over two seasons at Rutgers.

Kaliakmanis completed 53% of his passes in his first year before a nine-percent jump in year two brought his completion rate to 62%. Across two years at Rutgers, he tallied 5,820 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, while adding another seven touchdowns on the ground. Most notably, last season he threw for 3,100 yards and 20 touchdowns—chipping in an additional three rushing scores, one of the best quarterback seasons in Rutgers history.

At 6’3” and 212 lbs, Kaliakmanis brings ideal size to pair with his arm talent. While he is somewhat limited as a runner, he knows when to scramble to create positive gains. In a new Washington system featuring two dual-threat quarterbacks, Athan brings a true pocket-passing style to the room. With starter Jayden Daniels battling injuries over his first two years and backup Marcus Mariota on a one-year contract, Kaliakmanis provides much-needed depth. The talent is undeniable; while he may struggle to find playing time early in his career, he will have the chance to showcase his strong arm when he finally takes the field.