The Washington Commanders took a late swing and may have landed a beast in their backfield. With the No. 187 overall pick, Washington selected Kaytron Allen, a four-year producer who leaves college as Penn State Nittany Lions’ all-time leading rusher.
PFSN Analysts See RB1 Potential in Kaytron Allen for the Washington Commanders
Allen’s résumé does the talking: 4,180 rushing yards, 39 touchdowns, and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He capped it with a 1,303-yard, 15-touchdown final campaign in 2025.
The PFSN’s CFB Running Back Impact metrics ranked him No. 8 overall last season, with an impact score of 89.8 and a B+ grade.
During the PFSN’s “Football Debate Club” livecast on Day 3 of the Draft, Jacob Infante didn’t hold back when breaking down the value.
“Allen should be ready, juiced up, and built to be inserted into that Washington offensive backfield. I’m a little surprised that he went after Nicholas Singleton. Honestly, I thought Allen was considerably the better running back on tape. The production stands out with what he’s been able to do at the collegiate level.
“I like the ball security with him. It’s not something you have to worry about much as far as fumbles go. He’s got a low center of gravity, he’s sturdy, and he’s an effective one-cut runner. He can hit open running lanes with good precision, toughness, and balance, especially through contact.”
And then Infante looked at the flipside of ‘Why’ he fell to a Day 3 pick as he said:
“He’s very unproven as a receiving back, which is part of why he fell here. He was never going to be a first- or second-round pick. If you’re taking a running back earlier, you want someone with more passing-down value.
“But I think the ball-carry vision between the tackles is there. He’s a solid enough athlete. He can accelerate through the hole, and his toughness is going to help him as a rotational back for the Commanders. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes RB1, at least for 2026. I don’t know about long term, but for this season, it wouldn’t totally shock me if he leads the team in rushing.”
That projection isn’t coming out of nowhere. Washington’s current room lacks a true volume presence, and Allen’s profile fits exactly what they’ve been missing.
Ian Cummings went even further, framing Allen as more than just depth.
“I know Commanders fans will be very curious about this pick because running back has been a sore spot for you. Chris Rodriguez is coming back in year two. I like Kaytron Allen a lot. Cam, you mentioned he’s a top-100 guy on my board. So Commanders fans, I’m going to say it, I think he could become your volume back in short order.
Comparing him, I remember being close to the Commanders when they drafted Brian Robinson Jr., so I can provide a little bit of context. I like Allen better than I liked Brian Robinson Jr., and Robinson was taken earlier.”
It’s a bold comparison, but Cummings pointed towards the tape for evidence.
He added, “When you watch the film, as a receiver, he needs a little improvement, but he’s shown flashes. He’s got a really nice Texas route, and his hip fluidity shows up there. I think he can expand beyond that. He’s also a reliable pass protector.
“In the running phase, he’s a really good volume runner. He’s 5’11”, 216 pounds, with great density and physicality. His vision, spatial awareness, and cutting flexibility for his size are really appealing.
“He doesn’t have elite vertical speed, and I don’t think he has elite burst upfield either. But he’s thick and well-built through his midsection, which helps with contact balance and driving through defenders.
“His cutting flexibility is very underrated. He can cover ground laterally to create space and stack quick cuts in tight areas. Big fan of Kaytron Allen. The creative instincts combined with his physical build and toughness really stand out.”
Allen may not bring elite burst or third-down polish, but he brings something Washington hasn’t had in years. And for a sixth-round pick, that’s a window of opportunity.
How Can Allen Be a Plug-and-Play RB for the Commanders?
Washington’s backfield has been a rotation-heavy unit for years, built more on situational usage than identity. Since Antonio Gibson crossed 1,000 yards in 2021, the Commanders haven’t had a true lead back. Brian Robinson Jr. hovered in the 700-yard range across multiple seasons. Before that, even a late-career Adrian Peterson was the last consistent presence.
The result has been a committee approach with various backs filling roles but not controlling games. There’s been no enforcer, no closer, no one defenses have to respect for four quarters.
Allen’s profile directly addresses that gap. At 5’11” and over 216 lbs, he’s built for volume work. His game is rooted in vision, patience, and contact balance. He doesn’t dance. He presses the line, reads leverage, and gets downhill.
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The fit is straightforward. Quinn wants physical football, and that starts with finishing drives and controlling tempo. Allen gives them a back who can handle short-yardage, goal-line, and four-minute situations.
He may not take over third downs immediately, but that’s not the role they need filled. What they need is someone who can turn 2nd-and-9 into 3rd-and-3 and close out games in December.
