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Who is Commanders' draft pick Athan Kaliakmanis?
TL;DR
Athan Kaliakmanis was selected by the Washington Commanders as their final draft pick at No. 223 overall. The former Rutgers quarterback is known for his poise and has impressive college stats, including 38 touchdown passes.
Key points
- Athan Kaliakmanis was drafted by the Washington Commanders.
- He was selected at No. 223 overall in the sixth round.
- Kaliakmanis completed 442 of 763 passes for 5,820 yards.
- He threw 38 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in college.
- He previously played at Rutgers and Minnesota.
Mentioned in this story
Rutgers UniversityMinnesota
Washington Commanders
Who is Athan Kaliakmanis?
Kaliakmanis was the final draft choice of the Washington Commanders on Saturday in Pittsburgh. At No. 223 overall in the sixth round, the Commanders made the decision to take the former Rutgers quarterback with their final choice.
Kaliakmanis met with Raiders OC Andrew Janocko formally, as well as Brad Kragthorpe, QB coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. He also met with the Commanders prior to the draft. He is a former Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, his dad wrestled at Seton Hall, and his brother played WR at both Minnesota & Rutgers with Kaliakmanis.
He made 25 starts with Rutgers and is considered a poised, rhythm passer. He completed 442 of 763 pass attempts (58%) for 5,820 yards and 38 touchdowns against 14 interceptions, and added seven touchdowns on the ground. He also previously played at Minnesota. Does this draft choice indicate anything in particular regarding QB Sam Hartman's return? Or perhaps will Hartman and Kaliakmanis compete for the final QB spot?
This means the Commanders 2026 NFL Draft which only included two picks in the top 140, consisted of:
- Round 1 (7), Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Round 3 (71), Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
- Round 5 (147), Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
Q&A
What are Athan Kaliakmanis's college statistics?
Athan Kaliakmanis completed 442 of 763 pass attempts for 5,820 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions during his college career.
Why did the Washington Commanders draft Athan Kaliakmanis?
The Commanders drafted Kaliakmanis as a potential addition to their quarterback roster, possibly indicating competition for the final QB spot.
What is Athan Kaliakmanis's background in football?
Kaliakmanis was a former Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and made 25 starts at Rutgers, previously playing at Minnesota.
