Commanders are keeping a close eye on a rising NFL Draft prospect for their long-term plans at a key position
The Commanders’ latest top-30 visit doesn’t bode well for a certain veteran and a fan-favorite on the team, but would be an upgrade.
The Washington Commanders are looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, with time flying by until they’re on the clock, and they’re meeting with prospects high on their board before then.
They’ve already been linked to several high-profile players who could be taken with the No. 7 overall pick and scheduled top-30 meetings with them, but what about the later-round and undrafted players? The Commanders’ latest top-30 visit would help secure an overlooked position for the future that became way too important last season.
The Commanders scheduled a top-30 visit with QB Athan Kaliakmanis
The Commanders only have six picks to work with in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they have to explore all options. That includes late-round gems and even undrafted free agents after the draft. Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis falls under that category, and he has a top-30 visit scheduled with the Commanders before the draft.
Kaliakmanis is projected to be drafted anywhere from Day 3 to possibly go undrafted, depending on how the board falls. He has gained a lot of steam across the last few weeks, however, and teams are starting to line him up for their own visits, so he could potentially fix their own QB situations.
The Commanders relied on the backup QB position way too often last season, so should they start exploring different options for the future?
Why the Commanders should add Athan Kaliakmanis
Of course, we hope that QB Jayden Daniels can avoid the injury bug and that he will be in a much healthier situation next season with a better supporting cast and a new scheme, but you can’t always predict what will happen. You can only prepare, and we’ve seen around the entire NFL that the backup QB position is critical.
The Commanders brought back Marcus Mariota for one more year, but this may be the last year for him, and they need a plan in place for the future. QB Sam Hartman was unplayable in the preseason and absolutely shouldn’t be considered as the backup, so they need a young playmaker for the future.
Kaliakmanis took a massive step forward in his development last season at Rutgers, and he’s entering the NFL Draft at just 22 years old. He had a career-high 3,123 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, while having one of the highest deep ball grades in the country with his strength and touch.
I wouldn’t say that the Commanders should use one of their limited draft picks on the 6-3, 212-pound QB, but if he does go undrafted, they should be all over signing him to the highest offer he gets after the draft. They need a solid backup for their long-term plans, and hope that they never need him to step in.
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