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The Washington Commanders took a "lesser" version of QB Fernando Mendoza in the final round of the 2026 NFL draft.
The Washington Commanders wrapped up their 2026 NFL draft with an intriguing addition to their quarterback room, a “rhythm passer” compared to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. That’s the backhanded compliment paid to Athan Kaliakmanis, taken by the Commanders in Round 7 on Saturday, April 25.
He may be a lesser version of top pick Mendoza, but former Rutgers signal-caller Kaliakmanis actually kept pace with the new Las Vegas Raiders in an exciting statistical category last season.
This article will be updated…
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko