Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas, just pulled off one of the biggest shocks as NFL teams finalize their rosters for the regular season. This kid, who was just fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster, is now officially the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ No. 2 quarterback, backing up Baker Mayfield. Talk about a come-up!
This Kid Flipped the Script Big Time
Seriously, talk about a meteoric rise! Daniels came into Bucs training camp way down on the depth chart, sitting behind both Mayfield and veteran Jake Browning. Remember Browning? He signed a one-year deal this offseason, and pretty much everyone figured he was a shoe-in for those backup duties. He appeared perfectly positioned for it, right? But Daniels absolutely flipped the script during camp and those three preseason appearances. Instead of locking up the backup role, Browning is now expected to be released as part of the roster cuts, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That’s a huge gut punch for a veteran and a massive win for Daniels. You gotta wonder what kind of message that sends across the league: no job is safe when a hungry rookie shows up.
The Numbers, The Trust, And The Tough Calls
This isn’t just a feel-good story; Daniels earned it on the field. He signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent, snagging a modest $25,000 signing bonus. What a return on investment that’s turning out to be! In preseason, he completed 61.4% of his passes for 239 yards, tossing one touchdown. He even added 37 rushing yards and another score on the ground. Yeah, his preseason finale against Jacksonville wasn’t perfect , a 19-0 loss where he completed 8 of 15 passes for 57 yards and coughed up a fumble. But Head Coach Todd Bowles made it clear they weren’t just looking at the box score. “He’s shown a lot. He’s shown a lot,” Bowles said after the game, emphasizing they were evaluating Daniels’ “overall operation” and his “command of the entire offense.” It sounds like they saw something special beyond just the numbers. Oh, and running back Josh Williams, who had 57 yards and a touchdown on 18 preseason carries battling for the No. 3 spot, is also getting waived. Tough roster moves are hitting hard for some, but paying off big for others.
So now, with the regular season looming, Daniels emerges as one of the Buccaneers’ absolute biggest preseason success stories. Think about it: this guy arrived as an undrafted long shot, barely given a chance. Now? He is literally one play, one injury away from being the starting quarterback for an NFL team. That’s a ton of pressure, but also an incredible opportunity to watch unfold. Baker Mayfield better stay healthy because this kid has proven he can climb the ladder, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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