The Washington Commanders' final day of the 2026 NFL Draft was an eventful one, with the team possessing four picks in the final three rounds. The last one was the most notable, if only for the position he plays.
With the No. 223 overall pick, Washington selected quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis from Rutgers. That's right: competition for star passer Jayden Daniels.
Not actually, of course.
Daniels is the uncontested starter this year and, ideally, many more to come. But the addition of Kaliakmanis addresses a major need that should save Washington from a worst-case scenario that played out last year.
Commanders have their QB3, and potentially Jayden Daniels' future backup
Last season, when Daniels was injured on four separate occasions, it was Marcus Mariota who came in for relief. The veteran played like one of the league's premier backups, keeping Washington competitive in several games.
But then he got hurt too in a Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh Johnson took over for the final two and a half games. The 39-year-old all-time journeyman certainly looked the part, recording two touchdowns to three turnovers during his appearances.
Washington had almost no choice but to play Johnson, because its other options were practice squad hype man Sam Hartman and a signed-off-the-street emergency backup, Jeff Driskel. Suffice to say, the Commanders are not going to end up in that type of situation this year.
Kaliakmanis gives Washington a third-string arm who can develop in David Blough's system into a serviceable backup, perhaps ultimately taking over QB2 duties from Mariota. The Scarlet Knights product flashed NFL-level potential during his senior year of college, throwing for 3,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Ideally, the only action Kaliakmanis will see in 2026 is during the preseason. Washington will need Daniels to stay healthy if the team intends to make a run at returning to the playoffs. If he misses any time, then Mariota is back to step in again after signing a one-year deal with the club in free agency.
Still, the prospect is insurance in case of emergency, something the Commanders did not have last year. Had Washington's 2025 season not been sunk by a myriad of injuries in addition to Daniels, the team very well may have been forced to play in games with meaningful playoff implications with Johnson under center.
That's not happening next time around. If worst comes to worst, we'll see what the rookie is made of.