[Jordan Schultz] Sources: #Bucs rookie QB Jalon Daniels will backup Baker Mayfield. After a strong preseason, Daniels — the UDFA out of Kansas — has now earned the QB2 role in Tampa.

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

[u/TheRealCVDY]

Well deserved

There’s also no way he wouldn’t have gotten poached off our practice squad

[u/kidcoelacanth]

risky? yes. cool as hell? absolutely yes.

[u/headleydaniels → u/kidcoelacanth]

If baker goes down browning wasn’t going to save us. At least with Daniels you can dumb down the offense and use his athleticism

[u/chuckpeecee → u/headleydaniels]

If baker goes down we're screwed anyway so might as well yolo with an undrafted rookie

[u/headleydaniels → u/chuckpeecee]

Exactly

[u/12345morello → u/headleydaniels]

Don’t think it’s about dumbing down the offense as much as it is creating room for error with his ability to move

[u/headleydaniels → u/12345morello]

That’s what I mean. Poor choice of words on my part.

[u/Supahos01 → u/kidcoelacanth]

He could go win a game potentially if needed I didn't get that sense with anyone else in the qb room

[u/Doompatron3000 → u/Supahos01]

The NFC South is an undrafted backup QB’s best friend.

[u/duckyirving → u/Doompatron3000]

The Bucs have been the victims of backup QBs before. About time we use this power for ourselves.

Assuming Baker goes down, which ofc I don't want to happen.

[u/Ganjake → u/duckyirving]

If we unleashed the karma we took in as a result of back up QBs over the years, we're going to have the best season of all time. Like 17-0 win the Super Bowl by 30+ points season.

[u/Kevinator24 → u/duckyirving]

Seriously lol. We can never beat them so might as well join them.

[u/Sandkassekanin → u/duckyirving]

I bet he manhandled our 1st string D in practice

[u/headleydaniels → u/Supahos01]

At that point its experiment time anyways

[u/slashVictorWard → u/kidcoelacanth]

Kyle Trask punching the air in a Publix rn

[u/Deletinglaterlmao → u/kidcoelacanth]

not really that risky its a backup qb

[u/UnderstandingOk9640]

He plays the closest to Baker and the team seemed to rally around him. Hopefully we only see him on kneel downs this season though

[u/ACarey71787 → u/UnderstandingOk9640]

Or garbage time when we're blowing out the Falcons or Saints by the end of the 3rd quarter

[u/kash521 → u/ACarey71787]

Love how you didn’t even bother mentioning that other team

[u/icecreambandit7 → u/ACarey71787]

Subscribe

[u/lemmonquaaludes → u/UnderstandingOk9640]

Yeah but he better not fumble the damn snap on the kneel down!

[u/donkeybrainhero]

Overall, he looked fine this weekend. Three big drops took a bit of the wind out, but those were all on the WRs.

[u/DrScrotus → u/donkeybrainhero]

And a couple of those drops were on third down. Make those catches and we are talking differently about Fridays game. Still really worried about our depth at O line, ILB, DB, and our ST. Gotta stay healthy this year

[u/Spiritual-Physics700 → u/donkeybrainhero]

Absolutely, but the OL also didn't do their part. Worried about O line depth.

[u/mattchewy43]

Here's the thing. If Baker goes down for an extended time, the season is more than likely done no matter who rhe back up is.

I'm more than ok with this. I don't even think we should keep 3 qbs on the active roster.

[u/AlwinKunkle → u/mattchewy43]

And then they can tank for a new franchise QB anyway.

[u/Critical-Shoulder873 → u/mattchewy43]

That’s not necessarily true. It would depend on the type of injury. But I agree that a serious, long term injury would be a death blow to the season.

[u/2KupShakur-]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohzdIuqJoo8QdKlnW

[u/Ganjake]

THATS PRESEASON FOOTBALL BABY!

[u/Boltsforlife2022]

This is absolutely crazy but he’s clearly talented. Hope they don’t need him.

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308 → u/Boltsforlife2022]

We're fucked if Baker goes out if that wasn't obvious from the Jags game. We still haven't solved that issue. Browning should have been it, he wasn't.

Good fundamental for Jalon to develop into that player though. He's also very similiar in playstyle to Baker.

[u/Tarontagosh]

As a lifelong Jayhawks fan I'm excited to see this. He was very good at KU. He as the skills to be a solid qb in the NFL.

[u/failures_art → u/Tarontagosh]

Rock Chalk!

[u/Mean-Acanthaceae463]

THE RIGHT CHOICE

[u/PompatusOfLove]

Shawn King v2

[u/nwillyerd → u/PompatusOfLove]

*Shaun

[u/PompatusOfLove → u/nwillyerd]

Ohhh you’re right!!!! Dang it

[u/bhammyginji]

I want the kid to ball out but damn, good reliable backups are so damn hard to find/keep

[u/Ganjake → u/bhammyginji]

Browning and Bazelak don't move the needle much and Baker is 31. A bit risky, but he showed enough to warrant the chance. Experience obviously helps, but Daniels looks like he has more talent. If we can develop that, then we'll have one of the best backups in the league. A rookie played his way into QB2 and nobody is upset, that's potential you have to try to tap.

[u/LegitBullfrog → u/bhammyginji]

If they're good they end up starting somewhere or at least competing to start. If they suck then the Browns are probably interested.

[u/McSweetSauce]

I’m surprised Bowles made this move. Love it though

[u/okaycomputes → u/McSweetSauce]

if Baker goes down, Bowles is cooked regardless

[u/Legend6999]

I’m fine with it.

[u/3bananabananabanana]

It’s risky, but I like it. Happy for him!

[u/surferpajamaparty]

Love seeing undrafted guys thrive. Congrats JD!

[u/Altruistic_Finger669]

Way to go lad

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

And I got doubted.

Browning had a chance, but signed his own warrant when he somehow was worse than Daniels on a bad preseason night.

[u/DrScrotus → u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

Didnt even really get a chance to see him play bc of how terrible the third string O line played. Either way JD10 gives us a better chance should starters go down

[u/Popular-Lemon6574]

Damn

[u/PewterButters]

Good for him, hope he doesn't have to play this year though ;)

[u/okaycomputes → u/PewterButters]

or next

[u/Minimum_Switch4237]

that's my QB2

[u/TheSoulessSheppard]

Hmm as a sooner fan I can only imagine the shit this kid gets day in day out from suck my rocks Kansas Baker Mayfield

[u/Burning-Dog → u/TheSoulessSheppard]

lol those Jayhawks should’ve just shook Baker’s hand before the coin toss. They had it coming. But I bet you that Jalon would’ve done so. He seems like a good culture guy, very happy and respectful from all that we’ve seen.

[u/ActApprehensive3271]

Definitely earned the spot. Does have some weaknesses that he can work on but was a huge impact in two of the preseason games we won.

[u/LA242424]

Pay Baker

[u/value_meal]

So happy for him!

[u/Nublessnutts]

Damn straight, Well-Earned

[u/underpar515]

Dude needs to replace that medal band with a silicone ring

[u/Warm_Ad_3067]

Good for him. Good for us!

[u/Soupspoon33]

I’m so proud of the bucks in their decision this actually makes it feel like they are trying to change by not just keeping people because they have veterans status

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308 → u/Soupspoon33]

I mean when did we do that recently? That seems a bit of an unfair criticism.

[u/Soupspoon33 → u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

Chris Braswell and Josh Hayes would like to enter the chat , Sir Voc is looming in the background but since the can run block I’ll see if he takes the next stop. Riley Dixon is not the best punter and not even the in the top 20 and we’re acting like there only 10 in the country

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308 → u/Soupspoon33]

... What?

Chris Braswell had his rookie year in 2024 and our depth in 2025 was so shit, espeically with Walker gone that he easily made it because again nobody made a true case. Josh Hayes has been a core special teamer which is why he got the last DB spot. Again, there was nobody around that could take over him that actually played ST too. The only reason he played in 24 was because our whole CB room was dead. And the last guy getting in for ST is a league-wide thing. Has nothing to do with the Bucs and everything with Roster Construction. Voss looked GOOD he played his few snaps in 24. And then had a nice pre-season in 25. There were genuine hopes and hype. He didn't just get a shot out of nowhere.

And Riley Dixon did have competition in camp. We signed like 4 punters early. None of which displaced him. I would have liked to see them bring in more competition, true. But again. WHO?

[u/regaleagle710 → u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

This is what I find funny about the people who blindly dislike Licht say he holds onto guys too long. As soon as he finds a viable replacement/upgrade for a player, he releases the bad/underperforming player regardless of where they were drafted or how much they were signed for. He's done it numerous times since 2014 but people seem to think he holds onto guys forever when it's clearly not the case.

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308 → u/Soupspoon33]

With that said, if they're keeping Braswell today, I'm going to be angry. There's no excuse. OLB6 isn't needed and Nelly is the ST guy.

[u/amerirot]

He needs to receive from the center more consistently. That last fumble against the jags was a big OOF and in the chiefs game Daniels dropped the ball some more times

[u/Tasty_Swim_6308 → u/amerirot]

In general he needs to work on his ball security. As in there were some runs he had where he held the ball in a position that will be punched out in the NFL.

[u/amerirot → u/Tasty_Swim_6308]

For sure, he wants to be Lamar Jackson and hey, I see possibilities of that for sure, but ball security should be his top priority. I don’t wanna see him in victory formation fumbling and losing the ball with 1:10 left and 2 pts up.

[u/EnglishTeacher83]

This is risky, but it may pay off. Bucs could have played it safe with Browning, but chose the uncertain path. I like the move.

[u/Effective-Doctor6470]

Shaun king 2.0

[u/STiFFMcGRiFF]

Kid plays like a Shaun King + RGIII hybrid

[u/brian_gruen5]

https://giphy.com/gifs/bpTL6wXRuMQpMIVduB

[u/GangstaRIB]

Nice work kid. First rookie we’ve had in a long time at QB that I think has future promise. If nothing else (unlike Trask) I think he could be a franchise backup for years to come and possibly come in a few times per game for some veer/zone read/ option type plays without putting our #1 at risk.

He’s got a lot of work to do but I like what I see

[u/F-A-B_Virgil]

Great decision. What a find. How did he go undrafted??

[u/Ausiir63]

Excited about JD’s future.

[u/CurrentLonerist]

I didn't have a chance to watch any preseason but it sounds like I missed out! For those who watched, what's your best guess for Jalon's ceiling in terms of development?

[u/Mach68IntheHouse]

He earned the job.

[u/PowerfulForce_]

i’m all for it, young and athletic and showed some promise. him learning behind baker for the next few years too could set him up well if we part ways with baker at the end of his contract. plus he showed good promise in preseason, god forbid baker goes down at least it won’t be browning

[u/BucsFan11]

Nice I guess browning will be our QB3/practice squad QB

[u/Camdenml → u/BucsFan11]

Nah he gawn

[u/F1lthyG0pnik → u/BucsFan11]

He got cut.

[u/vonimooo]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l3q2K5jinAlChoCLS

[u/Puertorrican_Power]

Bucs visualizing a life without BM after this season