The Washington Commanders are rumored to have interest in NFL free agent pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie, according to Commanders and NFL reporter Ben Standig. If the move comes together, it would bring a Montgomery County native back home.
Ebiketie was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons with the 38th overall pick. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive end spent four seasons in Atlanta, appearing in 67 games and making 12 starts.
During his time with the Falcons, Ebiketie recorded 16.5 sacks, posting career highs of six sacks in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He developed into a consistent rotational pass rusher, providing pressure off the edge and improving each year of his rookie contract.
Before entering the NFL, Ebiketie transferred to Penn State from Temple for his senior season. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021 after recording 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hits for the Nittany Lions.
Ebiketie is a graduate of Albert Einstein High School, where he was a three-year letterwinner under head coach Mike Bonavia. As a senior, he helped lead the Titans to a 6-4 record while playing both linebacker and wide receiver. He was named the 2016 co-Defensive Player of the Year, earned first-team All-Sentinel honors, and received Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention recognition.
His senior season stat line was unusually versatile, compiling 21.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss on defense while also recording 298 receiving yards and three touchdowns on offense. As a junior, he added 9.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, three pass deflections, and two blocked field goals. Ebiketie also competed in basketball and track and field, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 6.5 points per game as a power forward and participating in high jump and sprint events. He transferred to Albert Einstein from Richard Montgomery prior to his sophomore season.
