The Washington Commanders are stirring up the backup quarterback positions for the future as they try to make sure they have a solid option at the 3rd quarterback spot after it became an issue in 2025.
To that end, the Commanders are bringing in 2 former Rutgers quarterbacks to compete for the role with 7th round pick (No. 223 overall) Athan Kaliakmanis, along with Jacksonville State quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who started his college career at Rutgers.
“Jacksonville State quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, a Swiss Army knife type, works out this week at Titans rookie minicamp, then next week the Commanders,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson wrote on his official X account on Wednesday. “A Kentucky transfer who began his career as one of the highest-ranked Rutgers recruits, Wimsatt (6-3, 225) is known for his mobility and versatility.”
Quarterback depth became an issue for the Commanders in 2025 when starter Jayden Daniels missed 10 games due to injuries, and aging backup Marcus Mariota went 2-6 in 8 starts.
Wild Story About Wimsatt’s College Recruitment
You have probably heard a lot of wild stories about college football recruiting — we can almost guarantee none of them can compare to what happened with Wimsatt.
One of the nation’s top quarterback recruits in the Class of 2022, Wimsatt played the 1st 3 games of his senior season at Owensboro High School in Owensboro, Kentucky, before leaving to play the rest of the season at Rutgers.
Ranked as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the country, Wimsatt wound up playing 4 games for Rutgers as a true freshman, making his debut in the 8th game of the season.
Wimsatt, 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, got his chance to be the full-time starter for Rutgers in 2023, but struggled in that role as the Scarlet Knights went 7-6 while he threw for just 1,735 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He did show an elite talent for running the ball, rushing for 497 yards and 11 touchdowns, but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry.
Wimsatt Wound Up Playing for 3 Different Colleges
Following his season as the full-time starter for Rutgers, Wimsatt transferred to Kentucky and played in 8 games in 2024, didn’t make any starts, and wound up with 5 total touchdowns — 3 passing and 2 rushing.
Wimsatt transferred 1 more time, this time landing at Jacksonville State for his final college season in 2025. With Jacksonville State, Wimsatt was named the starting quarterback for Week 1, but he only lasted 5 games before he was benched in favor of Caden Creel after a 2-3 start. Creel took over and went 7-2 in 9 starts.
The Commanders are set at QB2 behind Daniels in 2026 with Mariota, who is playing on a 1-year, $7 million contract — it’s his 3rd consecutive 1-year contract with the Commanders and 3rd year backing up Daniels.
“The Commanders are re-signing backup QB Marcus Mariota on a one-year, $7 million deal, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on March 9. “He can make up to $11M with incentives.”
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, will see his career earnings hit $90 million with his newest contract. He played in 2025 on a 1-year, $8 million contract and in 2024 on a 1-year, $6 million contract.
Commanders Invite ‘Swiss Army Knife’ QB to Rookie Camp