The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an interesting situation developing at quarterback.
Baker Mayfield will play the final year of his three-year extension signed in 2024, and he’s upset that the team didn’t give him an improved deal before training camp. However, the backup position is also set to take a turn.
Jake Browning is the expected backup, but Jalon Daniels, the undrafted quarterback who arrived from Kansas, is making his case to become Mayfield’s understudy when the regular season rolls around.
Bucs’ Jalon Daniels Impresses in Preseason Showdown Vs. Chiefs
Browning was previously the backup to Joe Burrow, and he had some good moments with the Cincinnati Bengals. The situation changed in 2025: he featured heavily after Burrow suffered an early-season injury, and his performances dipped.
Daniels, on the other hand, joined as an undrafted player, and so far, his performances have caught the media’s attention. He impressed against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buccaneers reporters couldn’t help but notice.
“Jalon Daniels continues to impress. Undrafted rookie is 5-for-5 for 39 yards and a touchdown, two rushes for 13 yards,” reported Buccaneers beat writer Greg Auman after Daniels’ first drive.
Jalon Daniels continues to impress — undrafted rookie is 5-for-5 for 39 yards and a touchdown, two rushes for 13 yards.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 23, 2026
“The Pewter Plank,” a media outlet that specifically covers the Buccaneers, also wrote about the young quarterback having a good performance for the second week in a row.
‘Jalon Daniels looks like an absolute gem of a find by Jason Licht and the front office. Can feel the vibe shift when he comes into the game. If he’s not the QB2 this year, he’s going to be the QB2 of the future. The kid has a future in Tampa Bay.
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Jalon Daniels looks like an absolute gem of a find by Jason Licht and the front office. Can feel the vibe shift when he comes into the game.
If he’s not the QB2 this year, he’s going to be the QB2 of the future.
The kid has a future in Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/9cY2nGPBJO
— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) August 23, 2026
Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, who won Super Bowl 37 with the Buccaneers, praised Daniels’ touchdown pass, although he confused Ko Kieft’s name with Raymond James. “Jalon Daniels with a JOLT to Raymond James! Great throw!”
Ashlie Abrahams, a writer for “The Bucs Wire”, was beyond excited with the quarterback’s game. “I’m dangerously close to making dangerous statements about Jalon Daniels,” she wrote.
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Evan Winter, a Buccaneers writer for “A to Z Sports”, also celebrated his game, saying, “JALON DANIELS HYPE TRAIN KEEPS ROLLIN’”
And finally, another Buccaneers media outlet, “Garbage Time Buccaneers”, noted how the game changes once he’s on the field. “Second week in a row now that the offense has looked completely rejuvenated as soon as Jalon Daniels checks in. Impressed is an understatement.”
Second week in a row now that the offense has looked completely rejuvenated as soon as Jalon Daniels checks in.
Impressed is an understatement.
— Garbage Time Buccaneers (@GarbageTimeBucs) August 23, 2026
Daniels was the only Buccaneers quarterback to throw a touchdown in this game. Tampa Bay won 16-15, but more importantly, they might have discovered a quarterback who could be important for the future.
