It's no secret that the Washington Commanders would have taken running back Jeremiyah Love if he'd somehow made it to No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. That dream never came close to becoming a reality, but general manager Adam Peters wasn't left empty-handed.
And one NFL Draft analyst believes the Commanders may have found themselves a Day 3 steal in Kaytron Allen.
While Allen won't blow you away with elite-level athleticism or game-breaking speed, he's a powerful, patient runner with some outstanding college production at Penn State. He's hungry, ambitious, and earned instant cult-hero status in Washington with his 'Fatman' nickname. More importantly, there is a window to feature quickly in a crowded Washington backfield.
Matt Miller believes the Commanders have unearthed a draft gem in Kaytron Allen
ESPN analyst Matt Miller agrees. He thought Allen had a tremendous chance of earning reps immediately. His college consistency and improving blocking skills led him to believe the Commanders may have struck gold in the sixth round.
"Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jacory Croskey-Merritt make up Washington's backfield, meaning [Kaytron] Allen will have a very good shot at making the roster as a sixth-round pick and carving out an immediate role. Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Penn State, Allen seemed to get better as a blocker last season, too, which should add to his value."
Finding rough diamonds at the running back position is easier than at other spots. The Commanders did precisely that with seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt last year. Tempering expectations would be wise, but Allen has not come to make up the numbers.
He wants to compete. He wants to push his way up the depth chart. And he wants not only to feature in the regular season but also to perform well enough to become a long-term option.
Those are ambitious goals, but this is the exact mindset that attracted the Commanders to Allen.
Maybe Allen will be restricted to an early-down role in the pros. He's not a burner, and his pass-catching out of the backfield needs refinement. But in terms of where he fits within Washington's current backfield, the former Nittany Lions standout offers a different dynamic than what's available.
The Commanders lost their power back option when Chris Rodriguez Jr. signed for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Like Allen, he was a sixth-round pick who eventually carved out an important role before leaving for decent money. Washington will be hoping for similar success this time around.
What comes next is down to Allen, but there's a growing sense that the Commanders may have unearthed yet another late-round running back gem who could be set for great things.
That's the best-case scenario for all involved.
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