Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent quarterback, just snagged the backup job behind Baker Mayfield for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, shocking pretty much everyone who watched training camp. This kid entered camp as the *fourth-string* QB, behind veterans like Jake Browning and Connor Bazelak, only to beat them both out and land one of just two quarterback spots on the entire roster. Seriously, Browning and Bazelak are already gone.
From No. 4 to QB2: Daniels’ Wild Ride
Talk about making a statement! Daniels’ journey is wild, right? Coming into a stacked QB room and emerging as the undisputed second-in-command tells you everything you need to know about his drive. The Bucs are heading into their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals with literally just Baker Mayfield and Daniels holding the clipboard. That is some serious confidence in a rookie, especially one who wasn’t even drafted. It screams that they see something special, something worth rolling the dice on.
Mayfield Spills: Why Daniels Is the Real Deal
Baker Mayfield himself isn’t shy about why Daniels earned that spot. In a chat with Bucs Wire, Mayfield pointed out how Daniels took advantage of *every single rep* he got. It wasn’t always perfect, nobody is, but here’s the kicker: if he made a mistake, he corrected it. Mayfield said it best: “if there was a mistake in there, he corrected it to where the next time he got a rep, it was never the same mistake.” That’s huge for a young QB. Daniels also brings a ton of experience from his five years and 45 starts at Kansas, racking up 67 touchdowns and nearly 9,300 passing yards, plus another 1,445 rushing yards and 23 rushing scores. The guy has played a lot of football. Mayfield even raved about how the ball “zips” out of his hand and that Daniels just brings this infectious, positive energy every single day, always smiling. You gotta love that.
Preseason Highlights and Heading into Week 1
Daniels didn’t just talk a good game; he showed up in the preseason. He finished with 27-of-44 passing for 239 yards, a touchdown, and zero interceptions. Sure, he had a rough outing in the finale against Jacksonville, going 8-of-15 in a 19-0 loss, but don’t let that overshadow the good stuff. He absolutely shredded in the other two games. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, he led three consecutive scoring drives! And in his debut against the New York Jets, he was 10-for-15 for 111 passing yards, plus a rushing touchdown. That’s big-time production and playmaking from a guy who was supposed to be a long shot.
Mayfield also teamed up with Sonic for a $7 meal deal, a cool side note for the star QB, but the real story is Daniels. The Buccaneers are clearly banking on this kid’s quick learning and talent. They have full confidence in him.
So, as Tampa Bay gets ready for their season-opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals, all eyes are on that QB room. Daniels has already proven he can surprise everyone. It’s going to be wild to see how he continues to develop with Baker’s mentorship. Get ready to watch this kid, because the Bucs are clearly all in on his potential.
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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