The Washington Commanders spent the offseason reshaping a roster that stumbled to a 5-12 finish in 2025, but one of their quieter additions could end up mattering more than most fans realize. The name is Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie who arrives with little buzz and a very specific job description: be ready if the quarterback room gets thin again.
That matters in Washington because last season’s emergency plan fell apart. The Commanders opened with a “competition” between Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman for the QB3 spot, and when both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota were lost for the season, Johnson ended up starting Weeks 17 and 18. With Kaliakmanis now in the mix, the hope is simple - avoid that kind of scramble this time.
Kaliakmanis is not here to challenge Daniels, and he is almost certainly not pushing Mariota for the No. 2 job either. But he does give Washington another arm behind its top two quarterbacks, and that alone gives him value heading into training camp and preseason.
The rookie brings real college experience with him. He spent four years as a starter, first at Minnesota and then at Rutgers, and last season he played through injuries while still putting up more than 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He completed 62.2 percent of his passes, which is enough to make him more than just a camp body.
There’s also a longer view here. Kaliakmanis has a chance to grow into a useful backup in David Blough’s system, and that could matter down the line.
Mariota is not viewed as a long-term answer in Washington, and the fact that he re-signed this summer surprised some people after his strong stretch in relief of the franchise passer. If Mariota is gone after 2026, Kaliakmanis’ role could become much more important.
For now, though, the path is straightforward. He has to beat out Hartman to stick on the roster, and that’s the kind of battle Washington should feel comfortable having. Hartman, as the source material puts it, may as well only travel with the team to be Daniels' hype man.
There is one wrinkle: Kaliakmanis cut way back on his rushing attempts during his senior season, which makes him an unusual fit next to Daniels and Mariota. Still, in Blough’s offense, he’ll have a chance to be used in different ways, both immediately and with an eye toward the future.
When Washington drafted him, the move barely registered. Once preseason starts, that could change fast. He may end up being one of the most watched players in camp, and the Commanders will be hoping that attention turns into something useful.
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