Commanders add valuable players to roster with 4 NFL draft picks on Saturday

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Heavy.com

Commanders Draft 6-foot-3, 242-Pound Edge Rusher With ‘NBA-Caliber Wingspan’

Josephs, 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, was just the 3rd pick for the Commanders in the draft after taking Ohio State inside linebacker Sonny Styles in the 1st round (No. 7 overall) and Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams in the 3rd round (No. 71 overall).

The numbers on Joshua Josephs seemed to indicate he would be selected much sooner than the 5th round, but there just wasn’t much buzz around him in the lead-up.

“Joshua Josephs’ speed/length has a crazy high ceiling for someone I’ve never seen in a Round 1 mock draft,” Underdog’s Hayden Minks wrote on his official X account on March 18. 

NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Josephs as a 4th round pick.

“Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide.”

NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Josephs as a 4th round pick.

“Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide.

Heavy.com

Commanders Replace Chris Rodriguez With ‘No. 3-Rated’ Draft RB

[The Commanders replaced] former sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. with highly-productive prospect Kaytron Allen, viewed by one longtime observer as the “No. 3-rated running back” in the 2026 NFL draft.

Allen’s a 1300-plus-yard back capable of replacing Rodriguez, who got paid by the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency after being usurped by Jacory Croskey-Merritt, last year’s seventh-round draft steal.

Keytron Allen an Able Replacement for Chris Rodriguez Jr.

The Commanders needed to find a Rodriguez replacement in this draft. Somebody able to be a power-style runner between the tackles and punish defenses.

Allen qualifies, according to veteran former Green Bay Press-Gazette writer Bob McGinn. Writing for Tyler Dunne’s Go Long Substack, McGinn dubbed Allen a “Naturally instinctive runner. If there is a quarter of a hole he’s going to find it. He’s got great run strength and contact balance. He’s going to get the dirty yards.”

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders spend Brian Robinson trade pick on center Matt Gulbin

The Niners eventually sent over the No. 209 pick for Robinson. He backed up Christian McCaffrey last season and didn’t do enough for an extended stay. Now, the former Alabama standout has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, while the Commanders spent the pick they received on Michigan State center Matt Gulbin.

This is a high-value selection. Gulbin was touted by some analysts as a potential fourth-round selection. He made it all the way down to the sixth. Although that brings some concern, Peters was clearly satisfied enough to take a swing at someone who was evidently being completely overlooked before Washington came calling.

There will be fire in his gut as a result. There is hard work ahead. But considering the Commanders picked Gulbin with the choice they got from San Francisco for Robinson, it represents a free hit either way.

Heavy.com

Commanders Draft ‘Lesser’ Fernando Mendoza for Quarterback Room

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 223rd selection and former Rutgers QB1 Kaliakmanis actually kept pace with the new Las Vegas Raiders passer in an exciting statistical category last season.

Athan Kaliakmanis Handled Fernando Mendoza Comparisons

Being compared, favorably or otherwise, to the quarterback long considered the consensus top player in this class could be a burden, but Kaliakmanis handled any Mendoza talk well.

He handled being, what NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero called “almost like a lesser Mendoza where if everything’s clean and he can just click through a progression, he’s got a good arm, he’s got good accuracy, he’s got good mechanics.”

The progression was shown by Kaliakmanis “showing better base mechanics and a more dialed-in downfield touch (28 completions of 20-plus yards in 2025, one behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza),” according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

There’s those parallels with Mendoza again.

Commanders Had Room for a Quarterback

The injuries Daniels suffered last season, including wrecking his elbow twice, underscored Washington’s need for a competent deputy. Fortunately, veteran Marcus Mariota brought similar dual-threat skills and a command of the offense to the field.

It made sense to bring Mariota back during free agency this year. Particularly for a relative bargain fee, but the Commanders still entered this draft with room to add another quarterback.

Undrafted former Notre Dame starter Sam Hartman is still on the roster, but he hasn’t always been a go-to choice when options have thinned. Kaliakmanis is four years younger and has the tools to provide genuine competition. The 22-year-old winning the third sport in the pecking order would provided a good return for a pick in the final round.

ESPN

Kaliakmanis sees Commanders as ‘dream’ landing spot

“Who else would you want to learn from being in my position?” Kaliakmanis said via conference call wearing a Commanders hat and a big smile.

“It’s a dream come true. I wanted to be a Commander. I was so excited.”

“We are where we are with Jayden and with Marcus and Sam,” Washington assistant general manager Lance Newmark said. “[Kaliakmanis] at this time made sense. We liked a lot about him. We wanted see if could address that position. He made sense on a lot of levels for us.”

Despite completing only 16 more passes last season than his previous year, Kaliakmanis threw for 428 more yards. That’s because he became more adept throwing down the field, with 27 completions that traveled at least 20 air yards — 13 more such completions than in his junior year.

The Athletic (paywall)

Washington Commanders NFL Draft 2026 pick tracker: Grades, fits and scouting reports

Round 5 – No. 147: Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Josephs is still learning how to be a more complete player, but he is a long-levered defender and has the linear twitch and pop to create disruption in the right role. If he stays committed to his development, he has an NFL floor of a designated pass rusher.

Nicki Jhabvala’s analysis

Josephs has rare length, with an 83 7/8-inch wingspan, and is explosive off the line, a trait coach Dan Quinn and Peters believe is a must-have for pass rushers. He’s still fairly raw and his production was underwhelming (9.5 sacks in four years), but he showed considerable growth at Tennessee and is described by Brugler as “a spark plug” against the run.

Round 6 – No. 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

How he fits

I can’t believe Allen lasted this long. I usually don’t go on a limb and predict a sixth-rounder will start games as a rookie, but if Allen is healthy, he’s going to start for Washington. He is physical, powerful and durable. The Nittany Lions’ all-time rushing leader, Allen ran for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns over his four seasons in Happy Valley. Last year, he was by far the most consistent player for Penn State with 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns, second in the Big Ten in both categories. — Scott Dochterman

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Allen isn’t an athletic freak like his Penn State teammate, Nicholas Singleton, but he has a better feel for the position and maximizes carries with his vision, physicality and body control. With his run instincts and blocking skills, he projects as a durable backup or low-end starter in the NFL.

Nicki Jhabvala’s analysis

Allen joins second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veterans Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols and Jerome Ford in Washington’s running backs room. Not all of them can make the roster, obviously, so Allen will have to earn a spot in training camp. But the durable and powerful back with good vision could be a rotational reserve in Washington.

No. 209 (via 49ers): Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Gulbin doesn’t have top-tier physical traits, and he gives defenders opportunities to break him down, but he is a resourceful player with veteran instincts. He projects as a backup center in a gap scheme, while offering guard versatility.

Nicki Jhabvala’s analysis

The Commanders can now have a competition for the starting center job. Gulbin figures to compete with Nick Allegretti for the starting job, but his versatility adds to his value. As noted by Brugler, Gulbin is the only player in this draft class to have double-digit starts at all three interior spots on the offensive line; he started 11 games at right guard in 2023 and another 11 at left guard in 2024 while at Wake Forest.

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders 2026 NFL Draft takeaways: Did Washington get enough help for Jayden Daniels?

If there was one pick that created skepticism, it was probably Williams, Washington’s third-round pick (No. 71) out of Clemson. The Commanders needed to add a wideout, but in Williams, they landed a player who was primarily a slot receiver in college (78 percent of pass snaps), when they already have multiple slot receivers on the roster and lack a big-bodied wideout. But the Commanders believe Williams is versatile enough to play inside and outside, citing his 2024 season as evidence. Williams was out wide for 43.0 percent of his pass snaps and deep for 22.3 of his targets that season.

Biggest question mark

It’s not about a particular player, but about the general makeup of the roster: Did the Commanders do enough to help Daniels? The third-year quarterback masked a number of the team’s roster deficiencies in his rookie season, but the combination of injuries, a tougher schedule and roster shortcomings derailed his second season. He didn’t have a deep receiving corps to begin with, and when injuries sidelined Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown for an extended period, the offense and the quarterback suffered.

Washington brought in tight end Chig Okonkwo to succeed Zach Ertz, but despite taking Williams on the second night of the draft, the offense, on paper, could still use another playmaker (or two).

ESPN

John Keim discusses Commanders Day 3 draft picks

Round 5, No. 147: Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee

My take: Washington needed to add more young edge-rush help — even if it’s just to develop for the future. Of the Commanders’ top five edges, four are unsigned for 2027.

Josephs has 34.25-inch arms, giving him a lot of length. Washington will not need him to play early, provided good health for others. So, Josephs’ main goal this season should be to continue growing as a player — and add needed strength. He has good closing speed, having run the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds, a quality time for a defensive end. Josephs finished his college career with 9.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.

Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

My take: The Commanders get more depth at running back, though it will be challenging for Allen to make the roster. Washington signed veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford in the offseason, to pair with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and the re-signed Jeremy McNichols.

Allen wasn’t an explosive runner at Penn State, though he showed he could be a one-cut runner — a valued trait in new coordinator David Blough’s outside zone run game. Allen wasn’t considered a big threat in the pass game. But if he can develop into a quality power back who hangs onto the ball, he can help.

Round 6, No. 209: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State

My take: Washington needed more depth inside, particularly at center after releasing Tyler Biadasz. Nick Allegretti remains the front-runner to start, but in Gulbin the Commanders get someone they can possibly develop for down the road.

He started at right guard and left guard when playing for Wake Forest before transferring to Michigan State, where he was a team captain. It’s possible Gulbin could simply develop into a quality backup along the interior. A big key will be how he’s able to move laterally as a blocker with Washington likely to run more outside zone.

Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers

My take: Washington has its top two quarterbacks with Daniels and Marcus Mariota. But Sam Hartman has not done enough to warrant an automatic spot as the team’s third quarterback. Hartman served as a fourth quarterback last season, spending all but the final two games on the practice squad.

Kaliakmanis started 17 games at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers, where he started 25 games in two seasons. He improved throwing the ball down the field as a senior, with 27 completions traveling 20 air yards or more — two fewer than his previous two seasons combined.

A to Z Sports

Washington tries to make lemonade out of lemons, but the final product tastes funny

Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

Grade: C+

He’s a well-built, powerful runner that was very productive in college. He ran for over 4,000 yards and recorded 43 total touchdowns in four seasons at Penn State. Most of that production came in a timeshare, too, which is pretty impressive.

Allen is best running inside in a power scheme. He’s a one-cut, downhill runner that’s also good in pass protection.

He’s not a home run threat, though, which is something the Commanders need. He also doesn’t have much to show in the receiving game, either. It’ll be interesting to see how Allen separates himself in order to make the roster.

Round 6, No. 209: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State

Grade: C

The Commanders need someone to come in and challenge Nick Allegretti for the center job and Gulbin appears to be that guy after getting taken at No. 209.

But can a sixth-round rookie center really come in and make a case for a starting job during his first training camp? Especially one that’s as limited as Gulbin?

The key with Gulbin is he has plenty of starting experience at both guard positions and at center. However, the Commanders are pretty set at guard with Sam Cosmi and Chris Paul.

Either way, Gulbin is a smart player, but that only takes you so far in the NFL. He’ll really need to improve his technique if he wants to make an early impact. The good news is he’s coming off the best year of his career, so the arrow is pointing up.

Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB Rutgers

Grade: D

Yes, it’s the final pick in the seventh round of a less-than-stellar draft. However, when considering the Commanders needed a cornerback or safety more than they did an EDGE, RB, or QB, it renders this pick as a total waste.

The Commanders would be way better off rolling the dice on a seventh-round corner or safety that actually has a chance to see the field in the next 3-4 years. As long as Jayden Daniels is healthy and productive, there’s zero chance Kaliakmanis ever plays meaningful snaps in Washington.

The good news is Kaliakmanis is coming off the best year of his career and the arrow is pointing up. However we won’t know if his accuracy and decision-making issues are officially resolved until he actually plays and obviously there shouldn’t be any time for that to come to fruition. At least, the Commanders are hoping so.

ESPN

2026 NFL draft grades for 32 teams: Winners, losers, steals

Washington Commanders: B

I projected Carnell Tate there in my final mock as the other outside receiver opposite McLaurin, but he was gone, too. The Commanders theoretically could have taken Jordyn Tyson, Reuben Bain Jr. or Caleb Downs to check off needs, but they went with the best player still on the board.

Sonny Styles (fourth in my rankings) shows his former-safety self, using 4.46 speed and elite-level explosion to read the play and close in a flash. He doesn’t miss tackles and chases down running backs before they can get to the edge. He’s a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who is going to make this team better. It was a really good start to the draft.

Antonio Williams and Kaytron Allen will boost the other side of the ball. Williams catches a lot of passes and is productive after the catch (331 of his 604 yards last year came after securing the football). He missed a little time last season and wasn’t as effective as he was in 2024 (11 touchdowns), but he will be a reliable outlet out of the slot for Daniels while also making an impact as a returner. Allen isn’t Love, but he did score 15 touchdowns on the ground last season and broke 30 runs for at least 10 yards. The Commanders brought in Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to join Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the backfield, but Allen will see his share of touches.

Joshua Josephs fell a little bit in the predraft process (only four sacks last season), and the Athan Kaliakmanis pick was a little off the wall. He was QB19 on my board. If Washington wanted a backup quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier was still there.

Regardless, Styles will be the centerpiece of this draft class, and he has the chance to be a really effective player for a very long time. I’m excited to see him team up with Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal to shore up the team’s struggling defense.

Podcasts & videos

#Commanders Film Room: Washington selects Sonny Styles w/@MarkBullockNFL

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