Commanders’ Athan Kaliakmanis reveals Jayden Daniels conversation after being drafted

With the Washington Commanders coming off the 2026 NFL Draft, one of their selections was Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the seventh round. As the Commanders’ quarterback looks to make a name for himself, the rookie would speak about the first conversation he had with star Jayden Daniels.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Kaliakmanis would be asked if he has spoken with any of the quarterbacks on the roster, like Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Sam Hartman. He would first mention how Daniels reached out right after the rookie got drafted.

“Jayden [Daniels] texted me, actually, after I got drafted, which was pretty cool. I just got put in a group chat with all the other QBs. So I can’t wait to meet him. Big resumes on every single one of them. Grew up watching some of them, too. So really, really excited to meet them,” Kaliakmanis said, via JP Finlay.

“He just said, ‘Congrats on being drafted.’ You know, he’s excited for me to get here. I just appreciate him, man. I’m excited to learn from him,” Kaliakmanis continued.

Athan Kaliakmanis says Jayden Daniels texted him after Washington picked the Rutgers QB to congratulate him pic.twitter.com/ylA0FMNC8o

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 8, 2026

What Athan Kaliakmanis wants to show the Commanders as a rookie

With Daniels the starting quarterback for the Commanders in the present and the future, Kaliakmanis is still looking to rise the ranks over Hartman and maybe Mariota as a player to rely on. In his final season with Rutgers, Kaliakmanis threw for 3,124 yards to go along with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions, which was a career year in his four seasons at the college level.

Kaliakmanis would be asked what he wants to be reflected in the early days of rookie minicamp, leading the 223rd overall pick to talk about his adaptability, even quoting a famous Rutgers motto.

“That I get better every single day, that I’m gonna get better. I’m gonna learn from my mistakes, and I’m gonna keep working, and at Rutgers, we say, keep chopping,” Kaliakmanis said.

Washington is looking to improve after finishing 5-12 last season, which put the team third in the NFC East, a year removed from winning the division and reaching the conference title game.

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