The Washington Commanders' selection of Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis at No. 223 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft has been the subject of much debate. That's necessarily due to anything he has (or hasn't) done, but because of someone who went after him: Garrett Nussmeier.
Nussmeier, who the Kansas City Chiefs chose with the 249th pick, was still on the board when Kaliakmanis' name was called. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. recently suggested that Washington should've rolled with the LSU standout instead. Yet, the Commanders ultimately went with the far less heralded prospect, and we're here to tell you there should be little doubt about the move.
Kaliakmanis is among the most experienced signal-callers of this year's rookie class (42 starts). His solid arm talent, functional size (6-foot-2, 216 pounds) and improved decision-making skills make him a more intriguing long-term developmental project for Washington than Nussmeier.
Commanders drafting Athan Kaliakmanis over Garrett Nussmeier actually makes sense
Just look at the numbers from each of their respective best collegiate campaigns. The raw stats favor Nussmeier's 2024 efforts, though what Kaliakmanis did in 2025 was better by some notable metrics, courtesy of Pro Football Focus ($):
Athan Kaliakmanis 2025 Stats | Garrett Nussmeier 2024 Stats |
|---|---|
440 dropbacks | 518 dropbacks |
6.6 percent big-time throw rate | 4 percent big-time throw rate |
2.4 percent turnover-worthy throw rate | 3.1 percent turnover-worthy throw rate |
99.0 passer rating | 95.1 passer rating |
Rutgers trusted Kaliakmanis, a two-time team captain with the program, to stand in the pocket and air the ball out as a senior. Naturally, this led to him absorbing heaps of contact; his 29.2 pressure-to-sack rate was the second-highest among the incoming crop of passers with 50-plus dropbacks. Be that as it may, he came through with explosive plays more often than not.
Meanwhile, there are valid concerns regarding Nussmeier's smaller frame and durability (or lack thereof), which reared its ugly head this past season. He missed four games due to a mysterious abdominal/oblique issue that was later revealed to be a cyst on his spine.
Another fascinating element to keep in mind is that Nussmeier and the Commanders' franchise centerpiece, Jayden Daniels, shared LSU's quarterback room from 2022 through 2023. Was reuniting them in Washington considered at all? Either way, Kaliakmanis proving to be the preferred option is quite telling.
Perhaps the Commanders wanted to avoid any unnecessary distractions. Nussmeier once thought he was going to beat out Daniels for LSU's starting job. Of course, that didn't happen, which adds another layer to Kaliakmanis' arrival.
Washington passing up the opportunity to pair Daniels with Nussmeier is especially interesting because the Chicago Bears landed Caleb Williams' backup at USC, Miller Moss.
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