“He Makes Things Happen”
August 23rd, 2026
Bucs backup QB Jalon Daniels.
Can raw, untapped ability overcome inexperience?
That’s what the Bucs must decide a week from today when Cutdown Day arrives.
The Bucs have to trim their roster to 53 players one week from today.
Backup quarterback Jalon Daniels has done a good job of closing out the first two preseason games. As Chucky pointed out a few times last night in the WFLA-TV Channel 8 broadcast, Daniels has things to work. Some are mental (learning the playbook) and some are physical (being better behind center and throwing short passes to the sidelines).
But when Daniels is on the field, he brings juice.
Jake Browning, a seasoned backup with starting experience, has only played in one Bucs preseason game. And while he wasn’t given any chance by the porous backups on the front line, Browning was very much meh.
But it is hard if not impossible to mount any sort of offense when you have defenders in your grill before you spot an open man.
Daniels, for as fun as he is, was going up against financial analysts and barbers in both worthless preseason games.
KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles loves the energy Daniels brings but Bowles had to temper his enthusiasm after the game.
“He did a good job closing out the game [for the] second week in a row,” Bowles said. “He made some plays, some clutch plays.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of things he’s got to learn, but at the same time, he goes out there and he makes things happen, and he gives us a chance to win.”
Is that “chance to win” enough to keep Daniels as the No. 2 quarterback? An undrafted free agent?
Look, Bowles likely knows he needs wins or he won’t be the Bucs coach come January. So what it boils down to for Joe is: does Bowles trust his career to an undrafted free agent over a guy who has a handful of starts in the league?
The Bucs promoted current No. 4 quarterback Conor Bazelak to the active roster late last season, giving the team three active QBs. So it’s very possible the Bucs start this season with Browning and Daniels on the team alongside Baker Mayfield.
Daniels likely would be claimed by another NFL team if the Bucs waive him in hopes he can find his way back to their practice squad..
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Daniels has things you cannot teach and he can learn the rest-keeper.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:11 am
Better keep him you put him on the practice squad and he’s gone!
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:11 am
There are reasons he was UNDRAFTED in
a quarterback hungry league.
Of course he has made great plays
BUT his ball placement is ALL over the place.
Fools Gold
That is the reason he was not drafted.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:15 am
Trade Baker. Daniels can get you the 8 wins needed for the NFC South championship. And subsequent first round embarrassment Bowles serves up.
Sometimes less is actually more.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:19 am
He makes things happen…against 4th stringers.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:21 am
I would take him over Browning, yes…but people are leaping to conclusions considering we’ve only seen him against 3rd and 4th stringers.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:28 am
This poorly coached team has next to no chance with Mayfield and absolutely no chance with Browning.
Cut Browning & go with the two other guys as backups. What’s the difference?
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:50 am
I think Daniels is pretty good here. He has looked good, yes there’s things he needs to learn but, Fields doesn’t really do that good with years under his belt. A lot of guys sit their lives away being No.2. He’s done better than Trask by far. Could be another Steve Young story if he gets taken. That was a Superbowl ring, Trent Dilfer has one to but that was on the team more than him. Lol. Keep Daniels and see if Zac can coach him into shape. Let’s Go Bucs!!!! First team QB said great things but didn’t show, come on man.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:56 am
Trade Baker in favor of Jalon Daniels? That might be one of the most genuinely stupid comments I have read on this site.
Bowles doesnāt like young, inexperienced backup qbs. Heāll go with what he knows.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:01 am
The kid is electric. Browning is just plain vanilla. Mind you, I love vanilla in my ice cream bowl, but not my stadium bowl. And Ballzac? Really? Daniels is definitely better.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:08 am
@ Been there since the beginning – Thereās NO WAY Steve Young wasnāt being drafted extremely HIGH, had he not already signed that monster deal with the USFL. AND, he probably wouldāve been a āSTARTERā right off the bat for about 20+ other NFL teams. So, WHAT are you even talking about!? āSTEVE YOUNG!?ā Are you now trying to say that BAKER is like JOE MONTANA, and are comparing the two!? And, āTrent Dilfer!?ā WHAAAATT!? What kind of world are you āliving inā right now!? What the HAIL are you talking about!? Youāre just spewing a buncha random BS running through your dome, Dude. Cause, NONE of this makes ANY sense at ALL.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:09 am
Weāre gonna have to risk it. Ideally he doesnāt play at all and he learns. If heās in there, that means Bakers down and it means we need whatever spark heās got. Robinson is smart enough to adjust and call the right plays for Daniels. Browning is not going to give the team and energy to win some games, heād only be in there not to lose.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:15 am
Daniels has the “it” factor.
Its more than obvious Daniels is the most talented backup QB the Bucs have.
With 4 years as a starter in College – this young QB displays a level of maturity and unflappability you don’t usually see in an NFL rookie….
Sure he’s going to make mistakes. But Daniels can make plays. He gives you a legit chance to win if you need your QB to go out and make some plays….
Bucs need the extra roster spot. Cut Browning – eat the $400k guarantee and roll with Baker and Daniels on the 53 man roster. Bazelek to the PS…..
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:21 am
Hey y’all here’s my inference : if Baker gets hurt it’s likely that our O line took a few hits..and that means the backup QB needs wheels and youth for the beatings. Keep Daniels.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:23 am
I like Daniels and Browning better than Bridgewater and view it as a good problem to have. We kinda know what Browning ceiling is at the moment. Daniels has a untapped ceiling and he is younger with better wheels. Do Bucs have the time to engage and develop Daniels? If he was #2 for example getting those reps he would continue to get better over time. I think he has more upside than Browning. Jake isn’t going to push Mayfield for a starting spot and Daniels is to raw at the moment. He certainly has made the best of his opportunity and creates some excitement. How different is the OC going to call plays between Mayfield, Browning, and Daniels behind center? Daniels and CB Garnes are guys you get excited about and root for.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:25 am
Ding! Ding! Ding! Pickgrin has the answer
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Pickgrin, I think, has it right. Somethingās amiss if the coaches donāt see it- the players and fans sure do. Start today with him taking snaps under center and getting enough snaps to get comfortable enough to timely break the huddle.
Heās not perfect, but heās the best chance weāve got to win if Bakerās out.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:34 am
I donāt see what this teams obsession is with Jake Browning. He started 3 games for Joe Burrow last year, lost all 3. The Bengals did not re sign him for a reason. Heās a journeyman in every sense of the word, not a solid, reliable backup. If the goal is to WIN if Baker gets hurt, then why not go with the guy whoās WON two games for you? JD has earned #2!
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:40 am
First off, who cares. Second, can he win a Super Bowl? Unfortunately I think itās the same answer for him, baker and toilet bowl. But at least I donāt hate him the way I hate toilet bowl. I take Bain dropping into coverage as a personal slight from toilet bowl.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:41 am
Some people on this site didn’t read Joe’s article Left Tackle Issue Alters Bucs Offensive Work.
The Baker bashers were gleeful to write about Baker’s “dirt balls”,”trade Baker and play Daniels”, “poorly coached team has next to no chance with Baker”. The first string played two possessions with a dreadful left tackle this game and none of the starting wide receivers played. So Daniels scrambled and won the game. How long will a scrambling QB last in the NFL without getting injured?
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:53 am
A key point to me was the Ko Kieft sighting. That last touchdown pass was impressive both for the bullet throw AND for the shoestring catch. Ko seems improved this season. Heās been all special teams and blocking since he got here; only time I remember Ko being involved in the passing game was when Brady threw him two balls early one season and never went his way again. Brady could sure carry a grudge and would freeze receivers out of the passing game. It would be fantastic if Kieft could grow a pair of reliable hands.
Itās true that Daniels looks good on the run, hitting targets accurately and downfield. Good skill to have. Compare that to our galloping giraffe, Mike Gannon. Though you really want your QB to perform in the pocket.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 am
Let the kid be 2 or 3 on the active roster, give him 3 years to get his game in order and see where he is at. For those saying him over Browning ,, I guess the answer is yea ,, the difference is one can run ,,, for the absolute joker that said start him,, you have to look at facts ,,,
Danielās had a 6 year college career , Led Kansas to a 5-7 record last year ,, in 6 years he had 9282 yards w 67 TD passes and rushed for 1439 yards,,, Bakers college , 4 years over 14,000 yards , 131 TDs and over 1000 yards rushing ,
Pro numbers , Baker over 28000 yards and JD 0,, now of you want to compare to Browning who has under 3000 career yards then have at it
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 am
“Trade Baker in favor of Jalon Daniels? That might be one of the most genuinely stupid comments I have read on this site.”
as bad as it is You haven’t been reading comments if you think so.
The Baker Deranged Nits are capable of much more brain dead comments especially in game threads
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:10 am
Bowles usually goes with the experienced player. I think he’ll stick with practice team. Of course there is of risk of loosing him. We’ll find out next week.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:15 am
Go read the draft reports Do some damn research. He has serious flaws that will take time to correct. Poor accuracy is number one. Hard not to like the kid but he is very raw.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:20 am
The kid has a natural god given skill set! Once he learns the playbook and practices a lot with the 1s, for timing, he will succeed. He’s a project worth keeping around!! I’ll be surprised if they make him QB2. This team is in win now mode not win in 2 or 3 years mode!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 am
Roll with Baker and Daniels. You can try putting Browning and Bazelack on the PS. Maybe nobody takes them. I doubt thereās a high demand for Browning. If there is, NFL backups are pretty bad.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:24 am
With a lot of work, I could see him being a QB2 next season.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:40 am
If Browning gets cut you think anybody else is going to pick him up? On the other hand if you cut Daniels heāll get picked up in a NY minute!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:42 am
Said it in the game thread, Daniels over Bazelak & Browning at this point and if the plan is to keep him through this season and into the next. Should we need to field a QB competition, Iād take him into ā27 as 1 of 3 guys IF he can really polish his game. Still, part of me has been waiting for the other shoe to drop in terms of his performance, but Iāll be damned if I canāt admit heās looked better these last 2 games than he did at any point @Kansas.
Large sample vs. small, but he looks better surrounded by pro talent and I think some of that makes a difference for the better for Jalon. So weāll see, still want ATL to cut Jack Strand so we can scoop him up and get the other two humps outta here.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:43 am
Daniels as No2 and makes the team. No one is claiming Browning, he can be assigned to the practice squad.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Pickgrin wins the prize today. Iām in!!!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:53 am
Ok so Browning to practice squad , Daniels to active roster as the #2(just in case someone would pick him off practice squad in a NY minute), if Baker goes down Daniels comes in,, then most likely the following week Browning to #1 and Daniels still the back up(no way Bowles starts him in a real game)
Remember hype VS fact, Daniels was passed on 290 times in the 2026 draft so his path may be challenging ,, if he keeps at it a few years and learns his craft he could be a viable #2 and make millions
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:56 am
He makes things happen is all that matters when it’s a W
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:57 am
Yeah, im loving what i see so far from him….i have hope!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:11 am
Buddha Says:
He has serious flaws that will take time to correct. Poor accuracy is number one. Hard not to like the kid but he is very raw.
***************
That was on display last night. A QB having trouble with the deep out is compromised. An OC can’t take chunks of the playbook out because their QB can’t make the throws.
The Bucs should stash him on their 53 and give him time to sort his mechanics out. He can’t be stashed on the practice squad because another team will poach him and do the same thing with him on their own 53. He’s absolutely worth the effort.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:13 am
@Pickgrin…Mayfield has the it factor
Its obvious that Mayfield is the most talented qb the Bucs have
As a starter in college he won the Heisman
Yes Mayfield has made mistakes, but he also can make plays
Mayfield is legit!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Lack of experience is a self-correcting problem. A weak arm and slow feet are not. When I hear Daniels speak he displays the intelligence and self-awareness that will allow him to correct his mistakes. I think you go with the guy with the better upside.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:25 am
He looks insanely quick and brave.
His first step is insane. He bursts out of the pocket and gets 5 yards easily!
He will get us first downs. With his legs or passes.
I believe football is all about first downs. He can get us first downs and win games.
Browning will find another team.
We absolutely need to keep Daniels. Heās a diamond in the rough
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:37 am
Teacherman
He is not a diamond in the rough
He is Fools Gold
He has horrible accuracy problems!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:37 am
So we have Danielās ,, ATL has that Jack guy, Carolina has the kid fro GT,, Balt has the guy from UConn,,, so we all have UDFA QBs that are balling out OR is it just preseason and none of these guys will stick
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:55 am
The narrative that Daniels is inexperienced, and raw is untrue. He played 6 years of college ball starting at age 17. The reason he, and other UDFA QBs are doing good is because they’ve played a ton of ball. Daniels threw for over 9 thousand yards in college, ran for over 1500 yards. He’s comfortable running an offense. He reads the field well, and looks to have a great grasp of the playbook. He lacks some footwork, and needs to work on taking snaps from center, but the talent, and it factor are there. The reason he went undrafted had more to do with his size then his resume. He’s barely 6 foot is why he went undrafted. In this type of west coast offense that doesn’t matter. I’d put Browning on the PS before this kid.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Let me see if I have this right. Some (not a lot I hope) want to dump Baker for Daniels.
Yes he had 6 years of college ball at Kansas. Three of those years he passed for less than 1000 yards and never passed for more than 2531 yards in any season. BUT…but…but – that was only because he was injured. Exactly! Missed 4 game in 2022 due to a shoulder separation, 10 games in 2023 with back issue and knee surgery during the 2025 offseason. Does anyone remember RGIII?
In those six years he threw for 67 TDs in college. Baker has thrown for 95 in three years in the NFL with the Bucs!
Yes he can run and yes he is fun to watch, but so is Lamar Jackson. Dump Baker because he can’t win a SB for this guy and you will win the exact same number of SBs as Jackson, and for all his talent, you can’t put Daniels in the same breath as Jackson.
And I know many criticize Baker for being short, but love the giant Daniels at 6’1″.
If you want to keep on the 53 man roster, I’m all in. But don’t expect this putrid HC to ever put him on the field. You want to trade Baker now and let Daniels lead the team to 3 or 4 wins, not only am I ok with that, I have said for months that the Bucs should have already traded Baker and tanked for the 2027 draft since they clearly don’t want to keep him.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
“Bowles doesnāt like young, inexperienced backup qbs. Heāll go with what he knows.”
What Bowles knows is losing football games. A ton of them.
2-15 coming
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:46 pm
ok changing my tune on this kid now…
yes, love him…he’s a keeper for now…
but he is completely not ready…….completely not ready…hear that…
i watched an over excited kid going thru the tunnel yelling 2-0 like a fool…lol…
so i had to listen to his presser…
and yeppp……he totally got out of his frame…couldn’t hold his frame…first time i’ve seen this uber poised, super impressive kid knocked off track…
so he starts talking about the helmet talk in the huddle with z-rob…and all of a sudden he’s acting the fool…bet this, bet that…bet, bet, bet…all this “bet” nonsense is coming out of his mouth…all this “bet to z-rob”, and “bet back from z-rob”…etc…after a dozen “bets”, jenna says “so z-rob was saying bet back to you?”…and at that point the kid woke from his dream and reeled it back in, and slowly got back into his frame…
he completely lost his frame…youth at it’s finest right there…lol…
the point is…….this kid is def not ready for the bright lights…yet…
hang onto him tho…
this year he is number 3, next year see if he can securely hold the number 2 spot, and potentially the year after could be his time – if he is the real deal…because i at least see baker with a hold on the #1 qb spot this year and next…even if next year is a “franchise the qb” type situation…
also browning looks like a scrubby #2 with a real noodle arm…he was noodling around for a lot of his time in cincy as well…and for a mere moment in time, a couple years back, he hit his stride for a stint…otherwise he wasn’t good at all – and that’s why he’s no longer there…i do not see a revival from the guy in tampa either
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
it’s like he was “smoking that wet” right before he entered the tunnel and hit the podium…lol
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:57 pm
also…
say baker is out and you have to go with a back up…
you go with browning…your #2…
but…
all year, if browning comes in ever…if he under performs, coach has to pull him quick fast…no riding it out in a game with browning…you give him 2-3 drives and if it’s not working – bam, you give him the hook for daniels…immediately…
daniels has definitely forced the hand for a quick hook of browning, if he is floundering out there
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Adam. What you about that wet You from H town ? Lol š š¤£
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:06 pm
also…we don’y know what we are getting really this year…
are we getting the #1 team in the power rankings back who entered the bye week at 6-2…
or are we getting the worst team in football we saw in the 2nd half of last season…
who knows…
but…
if we get the better team, browning has to be the primary back up…who can dully navigate his way thru a game and keep us in line for a potential victory…
now if we are the scrubs of the 2nd half, like last season, you can wing it and hot dog it more with the rookie daniels…you can gamble more and do whatever…
browning is the security blanket to hold things together if we are on a good path…if and when bake misses a game or so
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:09 pm
oneilbuc:
dude don’t get locked in on the wet bro…! š
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:19 pm
The kansas kid is inaugurating himself into the NFL especially after trying to run for that TD last night ,he got hammered, welcome to the NFL& tampabay.stay healthy kansas kid you’ll be just fine quarterbacking.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:20 pm
No one is going to put an UDFA on their 53 man roster. Daniels is safe to be put on the Practice Squad. There are going to be experience QBs and/or drafted QBs that if they are put on the practice squad have the potential to be picked up. Those are teams that 4 deep like Phi or Clv.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:44 pm
I like the promise of Daniels as a backup QB far more than Bazelak or Browning (who reminds me more of Ryan Griffin 2.0)
Itās incredible to me the amount of UDFAās this season who have at least an opportunity to make this clubās 53-man roster: Daniels, Garnes, Fordham, Patterson, Pyburn all have an outside/slim chance to a really good chance of doing so as of right now
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Daniels has potential and with experience he will most likely be superior to Browning in the majority of metrics. However, for now Browning has the experience but he did not have the protection needed from our back ups to be worth compared to Daniels who can move. He is the likely back up next year.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:55 pm
With you Bonzai….against 4th stringers!
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Daniels is clearly our 2nd best QB.
He should be QB2. And maybe QB1 next year and beyond.
And Yes, he was going against 4th stringers. But he was also playing WITH 4th stringers. So, the competition was even on both sides.
The only person on the field that was clearly better than everyone else was Daniels.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:18 pm
@Davenport, Cosmo, Pickin, Louis, Louis friend, Irishmist, Teacherman, Hodad
Best Reads for this article.