Commanders take Penn State RB Kaytron Allen in 6th round of NFL draft

TL;DR

The Washington Commanders selected Penn State running back Kaytron Allen with the 187th pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allen, the all-time rushing leader at Penn State, is expected to enhance the team's running game.

Key points

Washington Commanders selected Kaytron Allen in the sixth round
Allen is Penn State's all-time rushing yards leader
He finished third in all-time rushing touchdowns at Penn State
Allen's playing style complements the Commanders' existing running backs

Washington CommandersPenn State Nittany LionsTennessee Titans

The Washington Commanders had a failure of a season across the board in 2025, but the key to their offensive issues, aside from quarterback Jayden Daniels’ frequent injuries, was their nonexistent running game. Fan favorite 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a lot of hype, but Washington is still going into next season with the intention of upgrading the room.

They did just that on Saturday, adding Penn State running back Kaytron Allen with the 187th pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Commanders have a lot of shifty players in their backfield already, so Allen’s hard-nosed rushing style should add a nice balance to the running back room.

The former Nittany Lions rusher had a historic career at Penn State, becoming the school’s all-time rushing yards leader, with 4,180, and finishing third in all-time rushing touchdowns. The only players who ran for more touchdowns were Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley and Allen’s old teammate, Nicholas Singleton, who was taken in fifth round by the Tennessee Titans earlier today.

Q&A

What round was Kaytron Allen drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Kaytron Allen was drafted in the sixth round with the 187th pick.

What records did Kaytron Allen set at Penn State?

Kaytron Allen became Penn State's all-time rushing yards leader with 4,180 yards and finished third in all-time rushing touchdowns.

How does Kaytron Allen's playing style fit the Commanders' needs?

Kaytron Allen's hard-nosed rushing style is expected to add balance to the Commanders' backfield, which already features several shifty players.