All Smiles For Bucs Rookie QB Jalon Daniels
May 26th, 2026
Todd Bowles likes his new QB.
Todd Bowles’ face lit up more than usual today when the Buccaneers’ head coach was asked about his rookie quarterback.
That would be undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels.
Daniels is out of the University of Kansas, and NFL Network reported the Bucs handed Daniels a $247,000 base salary guarantee and a $25,000 signing bonus. So Joe suspects Team Glazer is smiling right along with Bowles.
It seems Daniels had a strong practice today, the first of spring OTAs.
“He didn’t put the ball on the ground; he didn’t turn it over,” Bowles said. “He’s probably one of the more energetic rookies that I’ve seen come in in quite some time. The game’s not too big for him. He’s full of energy in the building. Very happy to be here. Very smart. Very intelligent. I’m really excited to see what he can do.”
Interesting chatter from Bowles. Joe never heard Kyle Trask called energetic, so perhaps Daniels will be a different kind of presence around Baker Mayfield.
An energetic rookie asking a lot of questions and being a juice kind of guy could be a great way to help keep Mayfield laser focused during the dog days of summer.
May 26th, 2026 at 7:33 pm
That’s tee’d up perfectly but I will refrain. There is far too much opportunity for speculation.
May 26th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Kurt Warner – Warren Moon – Tony Romo – Jeff Garcia – Jake Delhomme
May 26th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Hopefully he makes it to the preseason games, I wanna see him play.
May 26th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Really excited to see what JD can do with his reps in preseason games, I’m happy for the young man and happy he’s here. GO BUCS!!
May 26th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
I can see it coming. The Bucs will hype Daniels up big time. I may be far out in the universe on this but I smelled a Baker trade request months ago and the Bucs are angling for attention. Bowles completes his contract and retires. Robinson gets 2 years to develop the new kid and ascend to the top spot. All the while the out of pocket expenses are kept at a minimum. A veteran QB (ahem Rodgers) is brought in as a mentor and all the cameras will be pointed toward Tampa. Baker is my guy but if I was running the show…….
May 26th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
However I did say that if Baker gets away I’m done. I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
I see the above scenario as the best chance for the owners to make chicken soup out of chicken poop.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
2 words… Kenny Bell. The dude was labeled like Jerry Rice without his pads on. If he could have only played padless
May 26th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
Our QB2 this year and our potential QB1 of the future.
Daniels is a stud.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Yeah, that’s just exactly who he was at Kansas. He had some nice moments. Mostly, against BAD teams. He’s a fun player. Seems like, a pretty good dude. But, that’s where it all ends with him.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Nope. Just Poop. If you think HE is their “BIG-Plan” for 2+YEARS from now… Then, we are in BIG Biggggggg TROUBLE. 💯
May 26th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
I have heard and resd a lot of the Bucs’ pundits go as far to say this kid could push the back up but I kind of agree with Melvin, Daniels is a nice story and he probably could be in the conversation for the 3rd qb and end up on the practice squad but that is it. There is a reason he was not drafted. However, he can scramble, maybe Zac can use him in wildcat formations which might be seen in pre season play and he might test Bowles’ D by running some exotic plays on the scout team.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
What is this we Melvin you ain’t no Bucs fan!
May 26th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Can’t anybody just root for a kid trying to make a career out of QB? Baker will need 40+ million a year to play soon… OF COURSE the Bucs would be much better off with a cheap QB and loads of cap space. Highly unlikely, but no reason to root against this dude.
May 26th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
@Sal Volatile
Doug Flutie
May 26th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
Some Cleveland fans blamed Baker for playing through his 2021 injury. Some Tampa fans blame Mayfield for playing when he looks hurt enough to sit a game. The coach plays him, if he’s willing, because the coach thinks he gives us the best chance to win. It’d be great if Coach Bowles had confidence in our backup quarterback. We’re employing some top notch offensive coaches and between the 3 backups we have we better be able to have a backup who can play ball.
May 26th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
Tony Says:
May 26th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
^^^^^^
How could I forget Flutie !?
I was living in Maine when he made “the pass”.
I was a Pats fan but followed the Bucs as best possible.
May 26th, 2026 at 9:19 pm
to hit on a unddrafted QB would be next level
May 26th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
After they signed him as an UDFA and I watched his tape, I was quite impressed considering he went undrafted. Unlike the vast majority of roster fillers that the Bucs generally pick up, Daniels can actually throw NFL passes – he doesn’t just loft softballs. I didn’t do any sort of deep dive on his film, but from various scouting reports it seems like he can at times have accuracy issues when under pressure, and can turn it over as well. But they also said he has an NFL arm, moves really well, and has a lot of experience. A majority thought he’d get drafted, but in the late 6th or 7th rounds – so not a huge shock he was undrafted.
Anyways, from what I saw on tape, he just looks like a guy that could stick around and certainly seems to be an upgrade over Ballsack.
May 26th, 2026 at 10:36 pm
These articles are all hype to sell tickets the true facts still hinder this current roster so let’s see same garbage coach same hurt tired weak bored players. If this team really wants to win and show all the doubters wrong we’ll why are most of the starters skipping OTAs or a coach saying Irving won’t be ready until fall? It’s a big joke and all hype for 2026 save your money for 2026 and get hyped up for a great 2027 new coach new players that are hungry and my friends the bucs will be heading back to a superbowl! If you believe this hype and bored players system your in for a depressing angry long season. I love the bucs but cmon we all see through the garbage the owners are giving us! Same people same result cmon bucs owners make some splashes and the hype can grow as we have a fired roster and fired up fan base
May 26th, 2026 at 10:43 pm
This is all we have now. Unrealistic over the top Polly positive speak about a rookie that is just camp meat.
We can’t talk about actually winning playoff games or how solid the defense is and ready to make a title run. Because neither of those things are happening and we know why.
Because those in power are asleep at the wheel as we hurdle towards the abyss.
May 26th, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Hmmmm….. One of the Joes loves to remind us of Mr. Bell from time to time.
May 26th, 2026 at 10:45 pm
Awesome, glad to hear it, last year Bridgewater was hardly an option, Connor Baselak maybe a little long in the tooth. We needed an upgrade.
May 26th, 2026 at 10:59 pm
I’m not anointing Daniels. I’m only trying to see things through the eyes of the owners. They dug a hole for themselves and have to get out of it. I hope they offer Baker 4 years and 50m+/- and he accepts. But I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think the owners want to extend him at all nor do I believe they are crying over the loss of Evans. I think they like Baker and may actually desire to trade him to a team that would pay him and give him 4 years. Only Baker Mayfield could have followed TB12 and succeeded as he did. The Bucs owe him but I don’t believe they want to pay him.
May 26th, 2026 at 11:34 pm
Like the energy. Keep him.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:23 am
BTW, I’m talking about Daniels purely as the 3rd / practice squad QB, he’d have a ways to go to even get to backup I think – unless he obviously has a huge offseason. But he does have the talent to stick around and perhaps eventually work his way onto the regular roster and end up having a decent NFL career as a backup – perhaps even a Josh Johnson style career. He’s not as fast as Johnson, I don’t think, but watching his college tape, that’s who he reminded me a bit.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:38 am
Josh Johnson comp is what I thought too. Slings it sidearmed and the mobility. If he has half the longevity of JJ in the NFL that would be huge.
May 27th, 2026 at 6:25 am
The owners will pay Baker the 50 million he is worth. The salary cap going up will cover most of it. And they have to spend almost all the money anyways.
Baker is our franchise qb. Resign him or regret it forever!
May 27th, 2026 at 6:36 am
I’m sure he’s a bit better than Bazelak….
May 27th, 2026 at 6:39 am
I saw a comment that said he was not drafted because he wasn’t good enough. Tom Brady almost went undrafted and Purdy was the last overall pick so you never know. It’s OTA’S, for Pete’s sake. Give them a minute. Sheez ….
May 27th, 2026 at 8:33 am
Sounds like he has already made the roster.
Good!
May 27th, 2026 at 8:49 am
“Yeah, that’s just exactly who he was at Kansas. He had some nice moments. Mostly, against BAD teams. He’s a fun player. Seems like, a pretty good dude. But, that’s where it all ends with him.”
Agree 100%, I think he processes well, but his feet are hell when plays breaks down. I’m not buying, but could be sold on him competing next year IF he can crack the lineup. Though, I do think he’s good enough to give Bazelak a run for his money as practice squad QB. Anything more than that, having watched a handful of Kansas games the last few years is blind optimism in my opinion.
May 27th, 2026 at 9:08 am
I don’t see this guy competing for QB1. However, he might be in play for QB2. I have always liked the general idea of a QB2 who can escape the rush and make plays with his feet. If the QB1 is knocked out of a game, it’s possible the OL is struggling so a QB2 might be able to make plays outside the pocket.
It sounds like this guy will be entertaining.
May 27th, 2026 at 9:14 am
If he’s so good, why did he go undrafted??? Brock Purdy at least went last.
May 27th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Getting some high level assets in a trade for Baker would certainly be preferable to losing him for nothing in FA or overpaying him to stay for 4 years. IMO best case scenario is three year deal in the 40’s with incentives, and opt out in 3rd year for both. Unless we can luck into a Shough, we’re kind of stuck with Baker as we don’t have several years to search around for a reasonable replacement. Lord knows JL would never part with high draft picks in a trade.
Daniels to Josh Johnson comp is what I was thinking too. We could and have done worse.
May 27th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Who is this person? I might have to go look at some film and educate myself.
May 27th, 2026 at 10:35 am
@ Woodman Says: “What is this we Melvin you ain’t no Bucs fan!”
Hahahahahah Yeah, okay Lmfao. So, giving an honest assessment and evaluation of a specific (Undrafted) player, makes you NOT a “Bucs Fan.” Okay, Clown. I’d much rather have an HONEST opinion ANYDAY, than the EMPTY, worthless, meaningless, biased garbage that YOU spew. So, YOU ever “watch him” play!?
May 27th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Dude is 6ft tall ain’t no Qb
May 27th, 2026 at 11:13 am
And, hell… I even, COMPLIMENTED the guy! LoL. Amazing how weak and ‘thin-skinned’ these (non football knowing) HOMERS (with no credibility) are. So, what was I supposed to do… LoL say that HE is THE best QB I’ve ever SEEN before!? Lmao. He turned the ball over A LOT and came up small in ‘big-games’ against good teams. He was a little banged up, but he always will be do to his style of play. He seemed to have a pretty strong arm and made some strides on protecting the ball a little better. He would be a good ‘practice’ squad player, running certain sets and imitating more mobile QB’s, & etc. But, that’ll be as far as he ever goes. He might be here long enough for a little decent sized cup of coffee. If he’s lucky. It just is what it is.
May 27th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Some people won’t even allow themselves to dream, that must suck to be perpetually negative and downtrodden.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
You know your starting QB sucks when …
You’re excited about a rookie QB that was passed over by 32 teams 257 times.
For context: 3 FG Kickers and 1 Punter were drafted. Jadon Daniels wasn’t. That’s how high the NFL is on Daniels.