Extra Time Made Jalon Daniels Extra Better?
September 2nd, 2026
Met Hall of Fame coach’s criteria.
Bucs fans are still buzzing about Bucs quarterback Jalon Daniels. And for good reason.
In two of the three preseason games, despite not knowing the playbook very well and despite not handling snaps well, he added juice to the offense with the bright lights of worthless preseason football shining from above.
In two of the three games, Daniels looked like a top-shelf prospect, not an undrafted free agent. In the third worthless preseason game, Daniels looked every bit the part of an undrafted free agent.
However, Daniels’ play was enough to elevate him to No. 2 quarterback, the next quarterback up if Baker Mayfield can’t answer the bell.
How did this happen? Well, Joe’s good friend NFL humorist/columnist Mike Tanier knows why Daniels might be better than your ordinary run-of-the-mill undrafted quarterback.
Tanier notes that Daniels has far more experience at Kansas (six years) than most college signal-callers. One Bill Parcells’ commandment of drafting a quarterback is experience and Daniels had a lot at Kansas.
Shoulder and back injuries limited him in 2022 and 2023. He orchestrated an option and RPO-heavy offense for a lackluster Jayhawks program in 2024 and 2025. Daniels can run, put a deft touch on intermediate throws and isn’t afraid to take chances.
This is an excellent point. Too often, guys only have one year and then they chase the NFL money — in recent years, the money is too good to leave college.
Here are Parcells’ seven commandments for drafting quarterbacks, and Tanier notes on if Daniels met them.
Be a senior: He wanted prospects to have the time and maturity that comes with a full college career. Daniels was at Kansas for six seasons.
Graduate from college: He looked for someone who took responsibilities seriously. Daniels graduated with a degree in sports management in 2025.
Be a three-year starter: He wanted to ensure past success wasn’t a fluke. Daniels was a six-year starter.
Start at least 30 games: He required a substantial body of work under center. Daniels started 45 games.
Win at least 23 games: He believed big passing stats had to translate directly to winning. Daniels won 27 games.
Post a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio: He prioritized taking care of the football. Daniels had a 67:31 ratio, slightly better than 2:1.
Complete at least 60% of passes: He looked for baseline accuracy. Daniels had a 62 percent completion percentage.
So maybe Joe shouldn’t be surprised by Daniels’ success. He met all of Parcells’ criteria.
But as Tanier points out, Daniels is an unfinished product.
Daniels … footwork and accuracy are essentially random. We’re talking about a guy who completed just 62.1% of his passes, in his sixth collegiate season, in a system full of scripted throws.
The Bucs think they found a gem who just needs some polishing.
This week on NFL Network, Sara Walsh noted Daniels is the first undrafted free agent quarterback since Trevone Boykin in 2016 with the Seahawks who became an NFL team’s No. 2 quarterback coming out of training camp.
Let’s hope Daniels doesn’t meet the same fate: Boykins never took another snap in an NFL game after his rookie season.
“There’s no blueprint for an undrafted rookie becoming your number 2 quarterback. Jalon basically wrote his own.”
– Bucs GM Jason Licht on
Jalon DanielsAccording to Elias Sports Bureau the last time an undrafted rookie qb was active week 1:
2016 Trevone Boykin in Seattle pic.twitter.com/pbQtUgwMW5— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) September 1, 2026
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:02 am
No risk it, no biscuit.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:15 am
RIP to Kippy Brown, longtime assistant Coach and Bucs Assistant. He knew how to coach up running backs and wide receivers before position coaches started to really catch the eyes of GM’s.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:17 am
I keep saying it, but the Liberty Bowl game where he and Kansas nearly upset Arkansas (when they were decent) I knew he’d be special. His coach got cute and took the ball away from him in the 2 point attempt that would have tied the game (again) and they lost.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:29 am
I want Jalon Daniels to be good. However, let us not forget the lesson of 2006 preseason Bruce Gradkowski, who looked like the steal of the draft before Jon Gruden overclocked his brain.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:31 am
Hmmmm… He actually reminds me of Boykin, going off of my memory of him at TCU. Those TD-INT and Comp% numbers have changed A LOT though, since Parcells said that, I bet. Possessing the ‘escapability’ just to get those passes off alone, AND then ‘on target’ was good enough for me to call Game #3 a huge success, the other night. The fumbled snap is not a big deal, since it looked like a ‘horrific’ snap by a backup GUARD trying to play CENTER in a Preseason Game. And, that is a normal thing for ALL QB’s nowadays, where a whole LOT haven’t taken a snap from directly under center, since HS or JR High. He will figure that out. It’s quite common. Honestly, everyone needs to go back to bring under center… It actually drives me INSANE. I mean, SERIOUSLY… You are running ‘up-the-GUT’ on 4 & GOAL from the 1!? It. Makes. NO. SENSE. So, you’re at THE ONE, and YOU WANT to start the play from 8-YARDS DEEP!? And, YOU WONDER WHY you were STUFFED for a 4-YARD LOSS!? It’s just straight INSANITY.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:46 am
It’s the mental nuances of being an NFL qb that will make or break Daniels. If he can’t stop being a run first qb when guys aren’t open right away he’ll be j.a.g. who can run and throw a football. Reading and understanding not just offensive but defensive as well it’s key. Being smart with his body when he has to/ chooses to run as well is key how long he will last. That is why Mayfield will never be as great as his fans think he is because he can’t read defenses before the snap and panics when his first two reads aren’t open and gets nervous and has happy feet after all these years.
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:49 am
He looks like he’s got upside but I’m praying he doesn’t get into a game this season unless it’s for mop up duty.
GO BUCS
September 2nd, 2026 at 5:12 am
Yahweh Parcells had seven quarterback commandments. Moses Daniels apparently came down the mountain carrying both tablets.
September 2nd, 2026 at 5:36 am
Being the #2 gives him the best outcome he can hope to get for snaps in practice
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:21 am
It’s funny, I can’t find the 27 wins online, Grok has continually said Daniels college record is somewhere between 11-15 and 13-15,,, Maybe the bigger win total is games he was in that they won ??? It’s also tough cause there is anothe J Daniels that was pretty good in college too!
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:28 am
Keeping Daniels on the 53 man roster was more about dissatisfaction of Jake Browning and NOT putting Daniels on the practice squad for someone else to nab him. If Baker gets hurt early in the season it will be Stick starting and not Daniels.
Perhaps by end of this season he could be a legit #2, but he’s nowhere near ready yet.
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:32 am
Also if I was Jake Browning and took that beating in preseason I’d rather be somewhere else too!
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:47 am
Find
Buccaneers Observer on YT
He has an excellent breakdown of JD
as well as in depth game film analysis, probably the best out there and he is a local Buccaneers fan
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:06 am
Best undrafted free agent quarterbacks in the last few decades were Warren Moon, Curt Warner and beer-chugging Tony Romo.
Both Moon and Warner had some great seasons, but each played for money elsewhere—Moon in Canada and Warner in warm, mini arenas. Romo, akin to Daniels was the only one who came directly from college. Romo played for Eastern Illinois where he was a small school standout.
Point being … it can be done. Daniels showed some great potential, but also proved he has a lot to learn.
I’m pulling for the guy.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 am
he’s one of those quarterbacks where you just throw away the playbook and let him play sandlot football. I didn’t think that he played bad against the Jaguars at least three or four really good passes were dropped. Garrett Greene dropped two of them. Some of those passes would’ve been first down since sustained drives if the receivers could’ve just made easy catches.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:04 am
There’s only one way to find out if he’s good or not. Give him a shot and let’s see what happens.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:46 am
I still find it hard to imagine that so many folks think a rookie quarterback doesn’t make mistakes. So you’re saying all starting quarterbacks in the nfl started perfect and stayed there. I saw nothing but potential and great mental toughness which is more than a lot of starters. If he fails then he was meant to fail , but I believe he will be a solid quarterback in this league.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:54 am
Jalon Daniels will be alright
He’s not your average rookie QB
He’s similar to Bo Nix
And we have the right QB coach to bring him along
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:54 am
Good move by Bucs….rarely does your team have success when the starter goes down regardless of if the back up is a vet or not. Great teams have a pattern of grooming young QBs, if we lose Baker at least we see what we got in a young guy who might become at a minimum trade bait down the road. If he stinks, then we likely improved our draft position the next year. Never saw much value in Browning….10 mediocre starts that accomplished little, with even less upside….no real benefit for the franchise.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:14 am
Start at least 30 games: He required a substantial body of work under center. Daniels started 45 games.
______________________
Painfully worded. Daniels was primarily a shotgun QB, which is plausibly why he’s having problems with the exchange while he’s actually under center.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:31 am
Well hellbe getting more snaps with the ones and twos. Should help a lit.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:33 am
Here’s my unbiased opinion of Jalon Daniels:
I believe he looked great against camp meat in the first two games. That certainly made him better than the camp meat.
In those same two games, he looked good against 3rd & 4th stringers…and that, to me meant he earned a look against better competition…a start against 2nd stringers in the final preseason game.
In the 3rd preseason game, the Jags did what the always do against us. They played most of their starters. This may have been unfair for Jalen…but it also gave us a chance to see how he would do if he had to start in the case of an injury to Baker.
It wasn’t pretty and his mistakes were pretty clear…he played like a rookie. That was to be expected his first time against a real defense.
As a dedicated fan of the Bucs whose sole exposure to the NFL is thru them for the most part, here are some things I noticed. I’m far from an expert, so some of these things may mean nothing:
• he kept his cool. At no point did he look desperate. That seems rare in a rookie to me.
• his fumble MAY have been the fault of the center. The one in the previous game was and I think it was the same player. I could be wrong. To be fair to that center, it was not his normal position.
• his pass catchers were horrible, with too many drops and they were out of position several times.
• his offensive line gave him little time in the pocket. They were not our starters and it didn’t feel like they were 2nd stringers either…but they were playing against starters.
• keeping in mind he is a rookie, his pocket presence was okay but not impressive. I get it, he was focused on earning a 2nd string spot, so he wasn’t trying to be a leader on the field…but that is something he’ll need to work on.
• the playcalling was purposely bland. Part of the reason was Robinson not wanting to reveal much, but also, Jalen is rumored to be behind on learning the playbook. As someone who was not expected to make the team much less be the #2, I guess I sort of get it. Sort of.
• he reminds me a lot of Josh Johnson. A lot. He could develop into a decent backup, but with what we have seen I think that is his ceiling. He’s more than welcome to prove me wrong. He can do that by learning the playbook and establishing himself as a leader of the offense. Work on improving his weaknesses.
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:47 am
How many top NFL QBs meet Parcell’s criteria? It might have been true in the 80s and 90s but basically all top QBs in the NFL now don’t meet most of his “commandments.” Neither of the MVP finalists last year meet even half his criteria. Bit silly to me to be touting this as something notable at all.
September 2nd, 2026 at 12:13 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
September 2nd, 2026 at 4:46 am
… If he can’t stop being a run first qb….
————————————————————————————-
That’s totally not the impression I got by watching him. How many times did he NOT have to run behind the Oline he was playing behind. Yet, he still tried to stay in the pocket and make plays. Preseason game number 3 was bad but the Oline never allowed him to get into a rhythm, something a QB needs.
September 2nd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says: “gave us a chance to see how he would do if he had to start in the case of an injury to Baker.”
That’s only if we had been decimated by injuries all across the board, and ALL of our 1st AND 2nd Teamers were also ‘knocked-out’ for the year. And, if he was playing with an O-Line full of guys fresh off the practice squad, & etc. and etc. So, his ‘numbers’ and a whole lot of other things actually told you NOTHING. Since, he will not be going to war with a bunch of 3rd and 4th teamers on HIS SIDE, as he did the other night… When he had absolutely NO CHANCE. That’s when you have to look at ‘other’ aspects of his game, and with what HE DID under those circumstances. You can’t get a fair true evaluation that way. I don’t care WHO was in there. Even, if it had been BAKER… You are just wasting your time. He would NOT have looked much better, at ALL. Hell, we saw HIM last year, with just farrrrr more TALENT around him, than what JD had on that night. They never stood a chance, no matter WHO you would’ve put in there, on that night. They were SO overmatched, it was like a State Championship Team from Florida, playing against some small school from deep in the mountains of Kentucky. Seriously, it was really THAT BAD. He got rid of the BALL. And, it was on target. What more can you ask for. He did what he had to do.
September 2nd, 2026 at 12:41 pm
ATLBUC – I agree 💯. Yeah, I never saw ANY of that from him the other night, when it wasn’t warranted. I thought his decision-making was just fine. Especially, given the circumstance.
September 2nd, 2026 at 12:51 pm
@ SeattleBucFan – About ALL of them will be now, moving forward. It was the exact reason for why Moore returned to Oregon… Though, NIL allowed him to do so. These guys are completely aware of needing the college snaps now. Moore definitely was, and he was SMART. The Anthony Richardson’s will be no longer. These guys will be staying in SCHOOL, and gaining the necessary experience. You’re already seeing-it! Guys are coming into the league NFL READY. 4 of the 6 first-round QB’s from just the 2024-Draft, have already made Playoff Runs, and had ‘sensational’ seasons. And, it helps that the games are closer than ever before now, with the influx of YOUNG HC’s throughout the league.
September 2nd, 2026 at 1:33 pm
@MelvinJunior – Regardless of whether QBs will start to meet his criteria more and more, surely the amount of successful QBs in the NFL right now who don’t meet them means it’s mostly worthless to consider?
September 2nd, 2026 at 1:47 pm
I am buzzing about the “improvement” Daniels made from playing against 4-6 stringers in games 1 and 2 to p!aying against 1 and,2 stringers game,3. Jaylon really moved the ball and scored lots of points,against v starters,and first backups. Note this is,sarcasm.
September 2nd, 2026 at 1:55 pm
The best platform for grooming young players is the UFL and,CFL. It is,amazing that so called fans,want to lose on purpose. The nfl needs,Fifa style Loan agreements with lower leagues.
September 2nd, 2026 at 2:23 pm
But, number of college starts and snaps taken, is a real thing. It’s a HUGE part of the discussion, when evaluating these College QB’s.
September 2nd, 2026 at 2:29 pm
AND nowadays, if you are a College QB with just a 60% Completion Percentage, and 30-TD’s with 15-INT’s… That is HUGE ‘red-flags’ there. NOT GOOD. It’s definitely NOT going to work, and you’re chances of going in the 1st-Round, are about ZERO. It’s very Pedestrian, at BEST.
September 2nd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
I cannot believe how many are actually giving credence to a couple of pre-season games and being okay with Daniels being named backup with no regular season NFL experience. With all the praise I went back and watched all the reps again. The only thing I could conclude from this meager sampling is that he can run and he is going to run with any pressure. That might work against second and third stringers and even work sometimes against a regular defense but I saw nothing to fill me with confidence that he is capable of taking over at this point. People complain about Browning but look at what he did in 2023 with the Bengals. 70% completion and he won some games for them even with the Bengals’ terrible defense. I’m not sure what they gain by this move. They should have kept Browning and have Daniels for backup. It’s really not even fair to Daniels to put him in this position.
September 2nd, 2026 at 2:35 pm
@ SeattleBucFan – Another thing… I believe if you look, you’ll also see that most ALL of the NFL Starting QB’s in the league today, are all going to have real real close to their 30-Starts in. The Comp%, TD-INT ratio, is almost a GIVEN, as well.
September 2nd, 2026 at 3:17 pm
This young man is not ready to step on the field with the defensive starters at this point in his career..and he is not ready to do battle with some of the best defensive coordinators on the schedule..The hall of mirrors that those guys create before the snap will definitely be nothing like it was at Kansas…..and one read and run sandlot football does not work in the NFL for long after the QB gets nailed by the LB’s and DB’s a couple of times..