The Buccaneers, of all teams, may have found the QB gem of the 2026 rookie class

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had their share of quarterback drama in the 2026 offseason, specifically surrounding the contract negotiations with starter Baker Mayfield.

While Mayfield and the organization were going through some rough waters, rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels was quietly stealing some of the spotlight.

To say the Buccaneers weren't at the front of the line for rookie quarterbacks in the 2026 offseason would be an understatement. They gave Daniels a decent guarantee coming out of Kansas of $272,500, but even that number is still relatively modest given the position Daniels plays.

Now, the former Kansas Jayhawks star has won the QB2 position behind Baker Mayfield, and might have a future with the franchise.

Buccaneers clearly found a diamond in the rough with new QB2 Jalon Daniels

Daniels didn't just win the QB2 position in Tampa Bay by default, either. The Bucs had former Bengals backup QB Jake Browning during the offseason, and Browning has a decent amount of experience to bring to the table. Over the last three seasons, he's played in 17 games with 10 starts, including a handful of starts for a Bengals team in playoff contention.

Cincinnati managed to go 4-3 in Browning's 7 starts for them during the 2023 season, so he was no slouch coming into this competition.

That just goes to show what kind of stuff the rookie Jalon Daniels showed throughout training camp and the preseason.

Daniels was a rare six-year player at Kansas. He showed some promise early on in his career, but a shoulder injury in 2022 and back injury in 2023 stunted his growth. Because of the exceptions the NCAA made during the pandemic, Daniels was able to get some extra eligibility and keep working at his craft.

He threw 22 touchdown passes in his final year with the Jayhawks, ran for another four touchdowns, and limited the turnover-worthy plays. The Bucs obviously took notice, but nobody around the NFL was really giving him a second thought when it came to his chances of actually making the roster, much less becoming Baker Mayfield's backup for the season.

Daniels made some really impressive throws throughout the preseason, but this touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs might take the cake.

Add on the fact that he has 4.65 speed at 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, and you've got the makings of a dual-threat at the position with a really big arm. The traits are there for Daniels to not only be a high-end backup for the Bucs, but possibly even a consideration to start in the future depending on what happens with Baker Mayfield.

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