Penn State RB Kaytron Allen drafted in 6th round by Washington Commanders. What to know
Penn State’s all-time leading rusher is officially heading to the NFL.
Running back Kaytron Allen — who finished his college career with 4,180 rushing yards — was selected Saturday afternoon in the sixth round (No. 187 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was taken by the Washington Commanders, and he is the eighth Nittany Lion to be drafted so far.
He was picked after his Penn State teammate and fellow running back in Nick Singleton, who was taken in the fifth round (No. 165 overall) by the Tennessee Titans.
Allen was the ninth overall running back off the board in the NFL draft. The Commanders, which have one of the thinnest RB rooms in the NFL, are getting a bruising back who put together his strongest campaign as a senior when he set single-season career highs in rushing yards (1,303), yards per carry (6.2) and touchdowns (15).
“I’ve been dreaming about it so long,” Allen told 247 Sports last month during the school’s Pro Day, referring to the next level. “It’s in arm’s reach, and whatever happens I’ve just gotta take advantage of it. All I need is an opportunity and to take advantage of everything.”
As a Day 3 pick, Allen will have to earn his time on the field. But he’s widely seen as a consistent-but-not-explosive back who can handle the early downs and protect the quarterback. He’s not flashy, but he’s durable.
He was a four-year starter who played in 54 career PSU games, and he was named a second-team All-American last season by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, an NFL draft analyst, described Allen “as a durable backup or low-end starter in the NFL.” He had a fourth-round grade on Allen and ranked him as the No. 5 overall back in the draft.
Now, the Commanders will see just what kind of return value they’ll get. Rookie OTAs start in just a few weeks, which should offer the first glimpse at where Allen fits in 2026 and beyond.
