The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft, has quickly emerged as a contender for the backup quarterback position. Initially expected to compete for the third-string spot, Daniels has impressed during the preseason, particularly in his performances over the last two games.
In the first preseason game, Daniels completed 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards and added a rushing touchdown. His performance effectively sidelined second-year quarterback Connor Bazalek from contention for the third-string role. The Buccaneers chose to hold Bazalek out of the second preseason game to allow Daniels more opportunities to showcase his skills.
In the second preseason matchup, starting quarterback Jake Browning went 8-for-11 for 84 yards before leaving the game with the team trailing 9-0. Daniels entered the game and led the Buccaneers on a touchdown drive, ultimately finishing with 9 completions on 14 attempts for 71 yards and a touchdown, along with 19 rushing yards.
Notably, while Browning was sacked three times, Daniels was not sacked at all, contributing to a comeback victory with a total of 16 points scored under his leadership.
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged Daniels' strong performances, describing him as clutch and noting that he has consistently made plays to help the team. Bowles stated, "He did a good job closing out the game... he goes out there and makes things happen," while also recognizing that Daniels has areas to improve as a rookie.
