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Who is Athan Kaliakmanis? Why Commanders took this QB over Garrett Nussmeier, Diego Pavia
TL;DR
The Washington Commanders selected Athan Kaliakmanis as their QB with the 223rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite other options like Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia still available. Kaliakmanis is viewed as an intriguing long-term backup.
Key points
- Washington Commanders drafted Athan Kaliakmanis
- Selected with the 223rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Other QBs like Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia were available
Washington CommandersAthan KaliakmanisGarrett NussmeierDiego Pavia
Who is Athan Kaliakmanis? Why Commanders took this QB over Garrett Nussmeier, Diego Pavia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Commanders welcomed Athan Kaliakmanis on an official '30' visit in the pre-draft process.
And with the 223rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they took the QB out of Rutgers.
On paper, he's an intriguing long-term backup.
Fascinatingly, they took him with the likes of Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia still on the board.
But clearly this wasn't random. The Commanders dove deep into him before the draft, and they take Kaliakmanis now.
2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live trackerĀ |Ā Pick-by-pick gradesĀ |Ā Best players still available
Who is Athan Kaliakmanis?
He's the new young QB on the Washington depth chart.
Kaliakmanis began his college career with a pair of seasons at Minnesota before ending it with two campaigns at Rutgers.
His passing yardage increased each year of his college career, allowing him to total 8,604 passing yards with 55 touchdowns compared to 27 interceptions.
Q&A
Why did the Washington Commanders choose Athan Kaliakmanis over Garrett Nussmeier?
The Commanders selected Athan Kaliakmanis for his potential as a long-term backup, despite Garrett Nussmeier being available.
What round was Athan Kaliakmanis drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Athan Kaliakmanis was drafted in the seventh round, specifically with the 223rd pick.
Who are the other quarterbacks the Commanders considered in the draft?
The Commanders also considered Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia before selecting Athan Kaliakmanis.