Buccaneers pick Jalon Daniels as backup QB in NFL cutdown day surprise…
The Buccaneers are making a big guess on undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels.
Daniels has been named the team’s backup quarterback to Baker Mayfield after Tampa Bay elected to release veteran Jake Browning.
Daniels, 23, received the No. 2 job following a formidable training camp and preseason, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rappaport.
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels has been named the Bucs’ backup quarterback ahead of the 2026 season. Getty Images
Browning, who signed with Tampa Bay during the offseason and acquired $400,000 assured, was launched Sunday as the Buccaneers finalized their roster.
The determination is especially notable because of the uncertainty surrounding Tampa Bay’s long-term quarterback scenario.
Mayfield, 31, is coming into the final season of the three-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2024. He is scheduled to make $40 million in 2026 and notably said he “felt disrespected” following negotiations over a attainable long-term deal during the low season.
“That’s really the disappointing part — to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it,” said Mayfield, who added that his agent is “not going to be bothering him with” any attainable extension talks until his worth is appropriately acknowledged.
Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht said this week that he’s “optimistic” about the sides coming to phrases.
“I’m very optimistic about it,” Licht said during the broadcast of the Bucs’ third preseason game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. “He wants to play. He wants to prove to us that he is the franchise quarterback that we said that he was. So, we’ll just have to see how it plays out. I’ll never close the door on anything in the short term, but right now, he’s focused on football.”
Baker Mayfield is coming into the final 12 months of his contract. Icon Sportswire through Getty Images
The contract expires after the season, making Mayfield eligible for unrestricted free company in 2027.
This makes Tampa Bay’s confidence in Daniels particularly attention-grabbing.
The undrafted rookie accomplished 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards, one landing and no interceptions during three preseason games.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels starred at Kansas while in school. Getty Images
He also rushed 14 occasions for 37 yards and another landing.
Daniels helped lead second-half comebacks against the Jets and Chiefs in the preseason months after going undrafted following a top quality profession at Kansas.
The 6-foot-1, 219-pound quarterback appeared in 49 school games and accomplished 61.5 % of his passes for 9,282 yards, 67 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.
Daniels also collected 1,445 speeding yards and 23 touchdowns, tying the Kansas profession report for speeding touchdowns by a quarterback.
His best statistical season got here in 2025, when he began all 12 games and recorded profession highs of two,531 passing yards and 22 landing passes, while including 404 yards and 4 speeding touchdowns.
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