kansascity
No one is suggesting that Jalon Daniels, the undrafted quarterback out of the University of Kansas, is poised to challenge for the starting or backup role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his debut season. The team's projected starter, Baker Mayfield, a 31-year-old veteran with nine years of experience and the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, is firmly entrenched when healthy. Behind him, Jake Browning, a 30-year-old with eight seasons in the league who has filled in for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, is viewed as a reliable backup.
Instead, the conversation surrounding Daniels focuses on his potential to secure a spot as the third-string quarterback or land on the practice squad, which largely depends on his performance against Connor Bazelak during the upcoming exhibition games. Bazelak, a 25-year-old former Bowling Green standout, also went undrafted and impressed during last year's preseason, completing 32 of 46 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown, which earned him a practice squad role. He was later elevated to the active roster in late November 2025.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles has expressed admiration for Daniels' abilities, noting his arm strength and knack for making unconventional throws. "He can make some very unconventional throws," Bowles said. "Obviously, you want to see the normal stuff as well, but when he gets in trouble he can get himself out of trouble, and that's big." Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson echoed those sentiments, telling Fox Sports' Greg Auman that Daniels has done a great job adapting to a new scheme. "He's really smart," Robinson said. "Coming into a completely different scheme from the college scheme that he played in, he's taking it all in. He's getting a decent amount of reps throughout practice but his arm is explosive. There's not a throw he can't make or a throw he doesn't believe he can't make."
Daniels' collegiate career at Kansas was prolific, as he threw for 9,282 yards and 67 touchdowns, ranking second in school history in both categories behind Todd Reesing, and added 23 rushing touchdowns, tying Chip Hilleary for the most by a quarterback in program history. His first NFL game action could come on August 14 when the Buccaneers face the New York Jets in their preseason opener, followed by a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 22.
To prepare, Daniels has been studying Mayfield, who shares a similar build at 6-1, 215 pounds. "For me, it's about being able to see what he's doing and being able to pick up little things," Daniels told buccaneers.com. "Obviously, he's going on year nine in the NFL now. He's played this game for quite some time and he has a lot of knowledge within his game that I don't have yet." Mayfield has imparted wisdom about the differences between college and pro football, particularly the increased pre-snap responsibilities and the speed of the game. Daniels acknowledged the steep learning curve, saying, "After rookie minicamp, I was sitting here like, I've got a grasp of the offense, I know exactly what I'm doing. Then you get put in there with the veterans and you're like, Oh, so I don't even have 10% of what I thought I knew."
Key Analysis
Veteran NFL writer Greg Auman of Fox Sports offered his perspective on Daniels' chances, noting that his six years and 49 starts at Kansas provide a solid foundation. "If he was two inches taller, he's a draft pick," Auman wrote. "He has a mobility that would make him good as a scout-team QB, able to simulate a scrambling opposing QB in practice." The Buccaneers have already invested in Daniels, guaranteeing him $272,500, which is close to a full practice squad salary, indicating they see potential in him.
For Daniels, the path to the 53-man roster involves first proving he is better than Bazelak, who held the QB3 role last year as an undrafted rookie. If he performs well in preseason, the Buccaneers might feel compelled to keep him on the active roster to avoid losing him on waivers. However, overtaking Browning for the QB2 spot appears unlikely given Browning's seven years of league experience. The competition is tight, but Daniels' unique skill set and the coaching staff's praise suggest he has a fighting chance to carve out an NFL career.
Originally reported by kansascity.