The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially rolling with rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback for their Week 4 clash against the Green Bay Packers. This move comes after Baker Mayfield was confirmed out for a minimum of three weeks with a dislocated thumb. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles dropped the news in his Monday press conference, leaving football fans wondering what exactly they’re getting with this undrafted rookie out of Kansas. It’s a big moment for Daniels, but the Packers’ defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is probably already cooking up some nasty pressure schemes.
Meet Your New Bucs Starting QB: A Dual-Threat Rookie
So, who is Jalon Daniels? If you weren’t glued to Jayhawks football or diving deep into draft profiles this year, you might not know much. Daniels is a shorter, mobile quarterback who made his name as a legit dual-threat in college. He measured just under 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds at the 2026 NFL Combine, and his 4.65-second 40-yard dash time tells you everything about his scrambling ability. He spent six seasons at Kansas, starting as a true freshman in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. After splitting time in 2021, he took over the starting job in 2022. Even with some injury struggles, especially in 2023 when he played only three games, the job was his when healthy. In 2022, 2024, and 2025, Daniels started 9, 12, and 12 games respectively, passing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for 400-plus each year. This guy can move, and he can pick up yards with his legs.
The Good, The Bad, and The UGLY For Daniels
Despite Daniels’ impressive college rushing numbers and consistent starting experience, the scouting report isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein points out Daniels has “enough arm talent” to make those deep throws, and his athleticism and mobility are clear strengths. But here’s the kicker, and what should be a massive red flag for the Bucs this weekend: accuracy and reading coverages look like real issues. Zierlein even notes that Daniels’ footwork “unravels on occasion, even without heavy pressure.” Yikes. That’s not what you want to hear about a rookie making his first NFL start, especially when a smart defensive coordinator like Gannon is on the other side. Tampa Bay is bringing veteran journeyman Easton Stick up from the practice squad to back Daniels up, which tells you how thin they are at the position.
This Week 4 matchup against the Packers is going to be a brutal test for Daniels. Expect Gannon to blitz the heck out of him, sending pressure from every angle, trying to force those footwork issues and exploit the coverage reads. Can Daniels overcome the odds and show he’s more than just a scrambler? Or will this rookie’s NFL debut highlight exactly why he went undrafted? It’s going to be a tough outing, and how Daniels handles the pressure will tell us a lot about the Bucs’ next few weeks without Mayfield.
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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