Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis will now have to make the short trip down from New Jersey to Landover, Maryland, as he was selected No.223 overall by the Washington Commanders. The Commanders already have a quarterback room filled with talent, such as Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, meaning that Kaliakmanis will have several experienced NFL quarterbacks to sit behind and learn from.
Kaliakmanis used his overall improvement over his college career and his stellar senior season to launch himself
into the draft conversation. Last season, Kaliakmanis threw for 3,124 yards and 20 touchdowns, which ranks fourth in both categories in a single season in program history. His two seasons at Rutgers rank at No.7 and No.4 in program history in terms of passing yards. He also ranks seventh all-time in Rutgers history in both passing yards and touchdowns, and is one of three quarterbacks in program history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season.
His 2025 play elevated the team around him and played a major part in other players on the team having breakout seasons of their own. Wide receivers Ian Strong, DT Sheffield, and KJ Duff got the chance to show that they were one of the most talented cores in the Big Ten due to their steady quarterback play. He was one of the best down-the-field passers in college football last season, hitting on 28 passes that went for 20 yards or more, falling only one behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who had the most last year.
Kaliakmanis is the first Rutgers quarterback to be drafted after Mike Teel was drafted in the sixth round in the 2009 NFL draft. He is also only the third quarterback in Rutgers history to be drafted, joining Teel, who went to the Seahawks, and Mike McMahon, who was selected by the Lions in 2001.
