The Tampa Bay Buccaneers couldn’t come to terms with a new contract for Baker Mayfield over the course of the offseason. As a result, he is entering the final year of his contract, with his future with the team uncertain after the 2026 season.
Despite the uncertainty, the franchise is moving forward with Mayfield as the starter while announcing Jalon Daniels as his backup. An undrafted free agent, the youngster has impressed mightily during the preseason. As a result, some sections of the fan base are elated by the move.
Jalon Daniels Is Turning Heads for the Buccaneers
A six-year run at Kansas wasn’t enough for Daniels to convince an NFL team to take a shot at him in the draft. However, the Buccaneers gave him a chance as an undrafted free agent, and he immediately ran with it.
Getting a run in all three preseason games, he turned heads with a 111-yard, 10/15 outing against the New York Jets. He stepped it up a notch in the second preseason game, completing 9 of 14 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the final preseason game, too, he was far and away the most effective of their quarterback options, throwing for 57 yards and completing 8 of his 15 passing attempts. In those three games, he had done enough to inspire confidence in the organization.
As a result, they officially named him the backup quarterback over veteran Jake Browning. But some members of the fan base believe this is only the beginning for the youngster as he starts his NFL career.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
“25k ‘And he’s earned it’ pretty sure that position requires no less than a 500k salary. Pay that man HIS worth,” one fan claimed after Ian Rapoport reported that Daniels was given a signing bonus worth $25,000.
Others, too, were perplexed by the signing bonus amount, with one fan arguing, “Bro, I kinda feel bad for him because it’s a 25k signing bonus. [Patrick] Mahomes makes 94k a day with his contract. Not saying that he is Mahomes, but like 25k still feels low.”
bro i kinda feel bad for him because it’s a 25k signing bonus. Mahomes makes 94k a day with his contract. Not saying that he is mahomes but like 25k still feels low
— Brian Wiegert (@brian_wiegert) August 30, 2026
Given the tape he’d put on display, one fan went so far as to wonder, “Have the Bucs found the Baker Mayfield replacement if Baker walks at the end of the Season…….”
Have the Bucs found the Baker Mayfield replacement if Baker walks at the end of the Season…….
— Jimmy Florida (@JimmyFlorida337) August 30, 2026
However, some sections of the fan base still had questions about him.
As one fan pointed out, “Earn is a bit of a reach. [The] guy threw for 128 yds and averaged 4.4 yards per completion during the entire preseason.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
There were other detractors as well, with one fan laying into the rookie brutally: “I honestly don’t think he has earned it; I think it’s been given to him. To appease an agenda. He’s shown to have pretty glaring deficiencies and looked very bad against Jacksonville. If Baker gets injured, we will lose every game.”
However, a section of the fan base was wholeheartedly on board with the youngster. As a result, one fan claimed, “Welcome to Pittsburgh, Baker Mayfield 2027.”
Welcome to Pittsburgh Baker Mayfield 2027
— Don Michael (@DMOZ0NE) August 30, 2026
It remains to be seen if Daniels gets a lot of playing time over this upcoming season. With a chip on his shoulder, fans will be hoping to get the best version of Mayfield on the field, who ranked 22nd on PFN’s QB Impact Rankings last season.
But if the two sides cannot agree on the deal, it looks like some members of the Buccaneers faithful are ready to embrace a new beginning with Daniels under center.
