What Happens If Jalon Daniels Wins Games?
September 30th, 2026
Could be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Recent NFL history is not kind to rookie undrafted quarterbacks. And it appears to Joe both the 2026 season and quite a few Bucs jobs hang on the shoulders of former Kansas quarterback and new Bucs starter Jalon Daniels.
No pressure, kid.
The Bucs decided to roll the dice on Daniels to back up a quarterback who, to paraphrase Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, often likes to put himself in harm’s way.
And last Sunday night, harm found Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield is now out at least three weeks and with the Bucs’ season on the brink at 0-3, the Bucs, and perhaps many people currently employed by Team Glazer, have their fate resting in Daniels’ hands.
It is rare for rookie undrafted quarterbacks to do well. Duck Hodges won three of six games for Pittsburgh back in 2019. After his rookie season, he never threw another pass in the league.
Then there is Tommy DeVito, the New Jersey-born quarterback for the Giants also won three of six games in 2023 as an undrafted rookie. He’s still bouncing around the league.
So it’s not like Daniels cannot win games just because he wasn’t drafted. But it is not the norm.
But what if he wins games?
If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs this year — yeah, yeah, yeah, they’re mathematically eligible but the Joe typing here has zero hope, even though it’s not unusual for a 1-3 team to make the playoffs.
But 0-4, the Bucs are toast.
Let’s say Daniels plays well and steals a couple of wins. Mayfield has been awful through three games. You cannot tell Joe the Bucs don’t have any degree of buyer’s remorse with Mayfield’s contract right now.
Back in 2018, then-Bucs coach Dirk Koetter benched America’s quarterback, Jameis Winston. For a coach to bench a No. 1 overall pick whom he signed off on is pretty much a coach who has signed his own coaching death certificate.
In the week after Jameis was benched, then-Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken was bluntly honest about the move.
“We’re trying to save jobs,” Monken said of promoting Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Bingo.
Every man working in football operations right now has to be wondering if he is part of a housecleaning when/if the proverbial next shoe drops. It’s hard for Joe to believe there won’t be changes if the Bucs miss the playoffs again, given how terrible the Bucs have looked despite high hopes.
(The only head coach who has not been dismissed by Team Glazer after consecutive losing seasons is Chucky and he won a Super Bowl for Team Glazer.)
With the exception of KitKat-eating Todd Bowles, coaches have likely discussed with their significant others about moving in January.
Guys like quarterback coach Chandler Whitmer, who until this fall had a sterling resume, is likely calling every heavy hitter college coach looking for an opening, including Curt Cignetti at Indiana where Whitmer coached last season.
With Monken’s words ringing in Joe’s ears, what happens if Daniels comes out strong Sunday and looks sharp playing for Mayfield? And stacks wins? What then?
Bowles is a Mayfield guy. In fact, Mayfield very likely wouldn’t be here if not for Bowles. But damn, Bowles’ coaches are his guys, too. If Daniels is winning, Bowles would be under tremendous pressure from his coaches not to rock the boat, to ride with Daniels.
Ah, but $165 million buys you a starting job, Joe.
Does it? Kenny Gainwell is one of the highest-paid running backs in the league. Bucky Irving is getting the bulk of the carries. No, Gainwell is not being paid near as much as Mayfield but he’s easily the highest-paid running back on the roster.
And then there is Bowles. Will he be trying to save his own neck? If Daniels gets wins, will Bowles keep Daniels in the game knowing his coaching career is likely on the line?
And then there’s the locker room. Joe would not be shocked at all if some defensive guys would go to Bowles and tell him to keep the kid on the field over Mayfield. The offensive side of the locker room is fully in Mayfield’s camp. By not playing Mayfield, Bowles is could blow up the locker room in this scenario.
“We’re trying to save jobs.”
If Daniels can win games, Bowles has a damn tough decision to make with all sorts of pressure. A decision that could be the last major decision of his career.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:04 am
What Happens If Jalon Daniels Wins Games?
Rejoice ….. I suppose
However, this is a poorly coached team and the Glazer family is doing NOTHING about it!!!!
September 30th, 2026 at 7:08 am
hurst will suddenly be our best WR and Otton will blow up. games will all be unders.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:16 am
If the Bucs win because of Daniels, not despite him, then I imagine he’ll keep playing.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:17 am
Pigs will fly.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Funny the Offensive line is in his corner. Slackers
September 30th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Rookie qb can’t win with defenders in his face, WHICH he will have
September 30th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Could Daniels really be any worse than Baker has been the first 3 weeks?
Could this offense get any worse?
Why can’t the Bucs run the ball?
Why does our O-line suck so bad?
September 30th, 2026 at 7:26 am
If Daniels wins games it will be because the Offense is fixed…..he sits and Mayfield plays…
September 30th, 2026 at 7:36 am
Just as long as bowls is fired, I don’t really care
September 30th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Success forgives a lot. If Daniels wins all 3 games and looks good then if Baker loses 3 games (as in his fault) then I’d do a swap out. However, the Oline with poor TE and RB blocking is a major issue.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:41 am
First of all Bowles is done. He’d have to win out which isn’t going to happen. The Owners and the GM (in their minds) gave him everything he asked for. This roster isn’t great, but it’s better than both the Browns and Vikings. The offense has taken three steps backwards and the Defense up until this last week was unmotivated and had no sense of urgency. Special teams gave up a TD which was the difference in the game. So all three are to blame. The Bucs have changed players, coaches, schemes, and play calling. The only common denominator left is Bowles himself. I will be cheering for Daniels, but he’s in a very bad position on a team who can’t figure things out.
September 30th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Go Jalon…excited for you! Packers aren’t that good. Cannot be any worse.
Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2026 at 7:47 am
Knowing this organization recently they often make questionable decisions. Personally if Daniels does well and wins 3 games (highly unlikely) I would likely want to keep him on the field. But how can the organization justify just inking their a $165 million quarterback?
September 30th, 2026 at 7:51 am
Oh please!
September 30th, 2026 at 7:56 am
If the kid wins he plays-bet on it on the poly market.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Well the chatter will start Sunday when he beats the Packers! I always felt Baker or the kid will win this game, they are a mess and odds say we pull one out of three home games out of our butts….but then reality will hit and he will look abysmal against the cowboys and the Steelers and the debate will be cooled and hopefully Baker finds his old self and takes it from there. But Sunday night will be fun to listen to all the I told you so’s on this site!
September 30th, 2026 at 8:01 am
Chuck, and duck kid, good luck. Wouldn’t surprise me if he out plays Baker. Every other QB in the league has.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:05 am
Daniel’s wins Bowles has no pressure. All of it is gone. Ws is his and his son job security. And if Daniels keeps winning and take us to the playoffs Licht’s hair will catch on fire as he is looking to trade Baker before he is fired!
September 30th, 2026 at 8:07 am
They will start Baker once hes healthy if Jalon wins because they won’t abandon the tank gameplan. Also, good play isnt rewarded under Bowles, only bad play. This organization doesn’t want to win since they keep going with the same losing strategy year after year.
Maybe that’ll change if Jalon wins but I doubt it. I’m still shocked Baker will actually take games off to heal. I think Jalon will ball out when he plays. This is the first time in years that I’m excited to see the offense.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:11 am
They will start Baker once hes healthy if Jalon wins because they won’t abandon the tank gameplan. Also, good play isnt rewarded under Bowles, only bad play. This organization doesn’t want to win since they keep going with the same losing strategy year after year.
Maybe that’ll change if Jalon wins but I doubt it. I’m still shocked Baker will actually take games off to heal. I think Jalon will ball out when he plays. This is the first time in years that I’m excited to see the offense.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:11 am
If Daniels can manage to put a clean game together and put points up there are going to be some discussions about our offense moving forward. NGL, I’m kind of excited to see how Daniels responds to this opportunity, it’s not every day/season you see a backup UDFA QB get a shot to pretty much prove/disprove his worth this early in the season. We’ll see how this goes, but the better this kid does the weirder things could get at 1Buc. Not just for the business and football sides, but even in the locker room as it doesn’t take much to win an 0-3 locker room over.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:15 am
These replacement guys always win a few exciting games until the opposing defensive staff get their number, then it falls apart quickly. Johnson seemed exciting in preseason, but I didn’t get a focused Brady/Manning perfectionist vibe from him. And he is paired with Robinson’s Offense, which to this point is underwhelming. This kid has the arm Baker doesn’t and seemed to have deep ball accuracy that is decent. But grasping NFL Defenses game in and game out with repeat success would take high level coaching and exceptional play or a mix of both…see Jacksonville. Letting Coen walk is in my mind legitimately the biggest failure (involuntarily or not) this organization has committed in this decade, and maybe ever.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:20 am
If we lose, then this will be the reason to keep Bowles on. After all, Baker was injured, so why should Todd be fired is what we’ll hear from One Buc.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Joe says:
The offensive side of the locker room is fully in Mayfield’s camp.
—————————————————————————————
I’m not so sure about that. All season long, everyone has been clamoring about the decline of the Oline. In reality, a lot of it is Baker’s fault. Their best friend Baker is making them look bad. Because of his scrambling aroung in the pocket and leaving the pocket early, they are getting excess holding calls. Believe me, they are happy to get some new blood under center.
But deciding whether to play Baker or JD is a good problem to have. But, by the time Baker gets back, it will be a no-brainer after JD goes 3-0. The way the defense played Sunday, its quite possible. Load up on the running game. The Oline will love that. And killem’ with play action. GO BUCS! Bye bye Baker Bledsoe!
September 30th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Ha, Daniels won’t even get one win with this offense and an OC that is not fit to call games in high school. Keep dreaming Joe, this season is already in the can.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Time to call Good Greek Moving and Storage. I’m sure they will give Bucs coaches a discount. Heck, set up a go fund me and fans will pay for Todd. None of this he’ll retire and stay in Tampa. We want him FAR away from One Buc.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:34 am
I doubt he will suddenly be the savior. He is a rookie QB on a mediocre team with a underachieving O line, rookie receiver & a Middle of the road pedestrian Defense ( boy too bad we don’t have a Defensive Coordinator) . He wasn’t a real consistent QB in college, lots of turn overs. Who is the back up QB behind him. Maybe he will win but he had trouble with blitzs and he will flat out be blitzed in the NFL
September 30th, 2026 at 8:35 am
“… the better this kid does the weirder things could get at 1Buc. Not just for the business and football sides, but even in the locker room as it doesn’t take much to win an 0-3 locker room over.”
Completely agree. Daniels doesn’t even have to win, he just needs to show the Bucs look more competitive with him in at QB. If we think the Bucs have problems with fans now, that would move the needle up a lot. That divide would also happen in the locker room and with the coaching staff.
Similar to taking a #15 overall GIFT of a pass rusher and turning him into a CB.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:36 am
We all want to see the rookie come in and play well, but the odds are he’s going to struggle. If there was a ever a time for the O Line to kick it in the ass in the run game it starts Sunday against a porous Green Bay defense.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:41 am
I’ve heard a few “Shaun King got to the NFCCG as a rookie” comments lately. Please don’t fall for revisionist history. King was a bad qb riding a Hall of Fame defense and handing off to A Train and Dunn.
We don’t have any of that here.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:42 am
“If Daniels can win games, Bowles has a damn tough decision to make with all sorts of pressure.”
I’m not so sure Bowles will perceive it as a tough decision. Every single time there has been a tough decision to make, he’s shrinked away. Not firing Leftwich mid-season, not firing McGaughy last year mid-season, not disciplining #27 last year for loafing or constantly being behind guts, the list goes on. He doesn’t have it in him to be an a$%hole, and sometimes the leader has to do that. The fact that some people are wondering whether he’ll be “forced” to axe Zac Robinson is more proof of my point. And in that last “distinguished” guy, you have to wonder how much of Baker’s awful play lately is on account of poor game plans and poorer direction.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Stop it already. It’s one thing to have him step in to a well oiled machine. Unfortunately this team is a complete sh!tshow… From top to bottom. Lol to “when pigs fly” – that about sums it up. Embrace the suck people.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:44 am
*guys (not guts)
September 30th, 2026 at 8:44 am
bowles is too stubborn for change….
JD10 could go 3-0 and as soon as baker is “healthy” todd will start baker….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 30th, 2026 at 8:45 am
If the guy can play good clean football and we stack wins then I’d leave him in and ride that wave all day until it crashes.
It’s only $120m guaranteed lol. The way this season has started I’m pretty open to all sorts of scenarios and changes.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Wouldn’t it be a wonderful problem to have? However, if the kid is winning games for the Bucs, then it stands to reason that Bowles isn’t necessarily fighting for his and his coaches jobs. Lest we forget, as miserable as a start as this season has been, the team is one game out of first with all their division games remaining. They are still in control of their destiny.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Of course the offense can get worse. They scored 62 points in the first three games. If they score between 0 and 61 in the next three, that would be worse. The grass is always greener…until you cross the fence.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:49 am
“Completely agree. Daniels doesn’t even have to win, he just needs to show the Bucs look more competitive with him in at QB.”
Heaven forbid this offense puts up >25 points(20, 19, 16 points scored in our first 3 games) with him somehow against Green Bay and we somehow manage to win, it’d be a storyline and talking point even after Baker heals up. Could you imagine, for the rest of the season your $165M QB being constantly compared to a UDFA QB who at the least came and gave us a different look. It’s gonna be interesting to see all this play out.
September 30th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Can we throw the challenge flag on $165M?
Joe is well aware the Bucs can get out of the contract without a lot of pain before the 2028 season kicks off. So, yes, $165 million is misleading.–Joe
September 30th, 2026 at 9:03 am
We’re 0-3 and 1-7 in our last 8. Stop talking about wins until we actually get one.
And the false hope that we can win with an undrafted rookie QB is ridiculous.
Just stop. We’re about to be 0-5 in a line over a week from now.
I can’t wait to hear the propaganda and excuses once that happens.
I’m just going to laugh and laugh. A complete comedy of errors.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:04 am
I hope the kids does great, wins the job for the season, we win our division, win a playoff game, and they fire the whole staff leaving us with a top 15 pick.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:11 am
If the offensive line lets Daniels get hammered, you’ll have your answer. Hopefully, they will protect him and give him a chance.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:12 am
He might win games but he will also find harm like Bruce,says of running QBs
September 30th, 2026 at 9:14 am
The way the offensive line is playing, I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about QB chaos, because Daniels isn’t going to win a lot of games.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Jeffrey Becker Says:
September 30th, 2026 at 7:08 am
hurst will suddenly be our best WR and Otton will blow up. games will all be unders.
————————————————————————————
I believe you’re correct about “Hurst will suddenly be our best WR…”
He is the one who Daniels played with the most in the preseason, so they’ve developed some chemistry. He didn’t play with the starters.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Todd Bowles will immediately replace Daniiel once Baker Mayfield is healthy enough to play. That’s a given
September 30th, 2026 at 9:32 am
In that scenario, the conclusion would be that Mayfield is the entirety of the problem.
His not seeing open receivers defeats even the most brilliant offensive game plan and play calls. It’s probably why Mike Evans left.
September 30th, 2026 at 9:38 am
I like Baker Mayfield – he is very smart and he has a lot of heart – moxie – he gets the team fired up and he puts everything on the line to win – but I warned against extending him , mainly due to his propensity for injury – now ask yourself, Baker fans, at this point in time knowing what you know now, would you have extended him ? Unless you are a fool, the answer is no – same goes for VV – a venal attempt by Licht and Bowles to affix themselves more tightly like barnacles to the Bucs – Licht and Bowles should be frog-marched out of One Buc ASAP
September 30th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Jalon Daniels WILL win games.
And Bowles will start Mayfield when he gets healthy and then the losing will resume at that point.
September 30th, 2026 at 10:35 am
“What Happens If Jalon Daniels Wins Games?”
Sure!….
1st round QBs are a hoax!… Just draft one in any round OR grab an UDFA…
Doesn’t matter, just plug in and play…
Odds are greatly against that happening against decent to winning teams…
Jimmy Garoppolo is out there if the Bucs want to save the season…
They chose a nobody to start so maybe tanking for better draft picks…
September 30th, 2026 at 10:42 am
If he wins they draft lower. Just lose baby! As far as he goes tho, you ride the hot hand. Bakers vision and anticipation blows
September 30th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Right now as we write, Defensive Coordinators still remaining on the schedule are sharpening their defensive game plans for Daniels.. This young man will be seeing ghosts and having nightmares for awhile..He probably will win games in the future as long as he can avoid the hero syndrome…but probably not immediately….
Let’s just hope he is not injured in this experiment by Coach Bowles..
September 30th, 2026 at 10:53 am
If Daniels wins a couple of games keep Mayfield on the disabled list for a while. Then put him back if he’s stinks bench him and trade him for a 7th rounder next year.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:05 am
even pennix beat packers easily, i predict alot of annoying fans on here praising daniels the same ones that used to praise bowles when it was still cool
September 30th, 2026 at 11:05 am
A quarterback controversy is never a good thing. If Jaylon pulls us out of this tailspin with a big V over the Packers, and somehow looks good against Dallas ( hopefully a win), even then Baker will be back in as soon as he is cleared to play. But, and I hate to even say it, if he flops again and continues to play poorly, back in comes Jaylon. This is the chance of a lifetime for Jaylon. It’s like when Tom Brady stepped in for Drew Bledsoe and never looked back!!
I still think it’s the OC that’s making the entire offense look bad. Good luck Jaylon!! I’ll definitely be watching and pulling for the Buccaneers!!
We need a win so bad !!
Go Bucs !!
September 30th, 2026 at 11:10 am
If the kid wins, keep playing him.
Baker has been an embarrassment this year. And much of last year. And I don’t wanna hear about injuries. If you can’t do the job because you’re hurt, then sit your ass down.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:12 am
My advice to Jaylon: Run. You’ve got the legs. They will respect the arm.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:26 am
There’s no need to even ask the question. Wins don’t matter, it’s the other things that matter. The Bucs are great.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:44 am
If the kid wins, you got a viable backup in a questionable season and a $165M albatross hanging on the neck. If #10 wins, Baker is expendable but not tradable because of his play and pay. The extension was a mistake, if the kid wins its a disaster level mistake
September 30th, 2026 at 11:45 am
“Mayfield has been awful through three games” ??? More like 11 games.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Who cares about wins we got the culture right glazers Todd for president.
September 30th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Doesn’t matter, he wont win.
September 30th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
I mean in all honesty I dont think Dan Marino could win games behind this offensive line and with this coaching staff.
September 30th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
“TiredBucsFan” is correct!!! The only thing left to wonder about now is when Bowles walks the plank and hits the water, will he sink or swim? I think I know the answer to that too….bye bye Todd, you are done, its just a matter of when…..good riddens. “we gotta coach it better”
2-10 in his last 12 games, and that’s the owners guy!!! Wonderful.
September 30th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Can we get rid-
I wouldn’t have extended Bakers contract with a perfectly legitimate basis, his performance since the bye in 2025.
I’m a Baker Mayfield fan and still believe he can make it out of this. Last year the problem was injuries, this year, what has Baker underperforming? Or is it the entire offense underperforming along with Baker ? And if that’s the case, the blame may lie with the OC.
I sure hope there are some internal investigations going on to try and find out what the problem is.
Do I think Coach Bowles is the problem? Realistically, he is the captain of the Pirate Ship, and if the ship runs aground and breaks apart. The blame falls on the captain.
What a difference a coach makes !!
I’m thinking of Bruce Arians and his red pin. A quarterback whisperer, BA wouldn’t put up with any BS.
Coach Bowles please dig into this and turn the ship around !!
Always a Bucs Fan !!
Bartow Buc !!
Go Bucs !!
September 30th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
The Bucs would be so lucky if Daniels wins any game and it becomes a controversy.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
What happens if aliens invade the earth tomorrow?
September 30th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
A lot of what ifs there. Let’s just get thru this next game. I do get it Joe. I mean if Daniels wins us 3 games until baker is healthy then sorry baker. At the end of the day it’s about wins not draft status or contract status. You go with the hot hand until Daniels plays as bad as baker then drop baker back in. Mostly baker throws a huge fit if this happens but honestly who gives a 💩 when baker has bin playing terrible.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
Morrison played great for a few weeks. Parrish comes back, Morrison gets buried on bench with one single defensive snap vs Vikings. It is how Bowles operates. It seems idiotic.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
I see another Shaun King moment here. Ironcally same number also.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
NFL.COM weekly QB rankings. Why oh why!
29
Rank decreased by
1
Baker Mayfield
TB
Year 9
September 30th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Mayfield Derangement Syndrome takes over again, making ordinary football situations spin off into fantasy. Re-signing a proven starter at the going rate before he becomes a free agent is normal practice, even if it is not always as successful as one would like. You may end up looking bad but will have a lot of company; but if you flout the convention and fail, you’ll be the only idiot in the room. When the starting QB gets injured, he comes out of the lineup; when he is healthy, he comes back in and the back-up takes a seat. Last year, Baker stayed in, and conventional wisdom was outraged. That, though, was when he was still on a “prove it” contract, so there was some reason to the rhyme. This year, his security allows him to do the normal thing for the sake of the long haul. If Daniels wins games, he will still come out because, as the sages say, it would be only a question of time before he would regress to his mean. Meanwhile, what heads will roll on the team(s) Daniels beats?