Buccaneers Make Quarterback Decision Before 2026 NFL Season

Douglas DeFelice - USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers Make Quarterback Decision Before 2026 NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Aug 30, 2026 10:27 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent much of this preseason watching Jalon Daniels turn himself from an afterthought into one of the more interesting storylines in camp. The former Kansas quarterback went undrafted out of college, where he spent his entire career under Lance Leipold in Lawrence.

Tampa Bay signed him as an undrafted free agent with a $25,000 signing bonus, and he entered camp expected to sit behind Jake Browning in the race for Baker Mayfield’s backup job.

That expectation didn’t last long.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Buccaneers are moving forward with Daniels as Mayfield’s backup for the 2026 season. The team has since released Browning, clearing the path for the rookie to hold the job heading into the regular season.

Sources: The #Bucs are moving forward with UDFA QB Jalon Daniels as their backup QB to Baker Mayfield, as he’s impressed throughout camp. A true find and a very cool story. pic.twitter.com/bi1KYzmC9G
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2026

Daniels’ rise from an undrafted signing to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart came together in a matter of weeks, built almost entirely on his showing across three preseason outings.

Daniels opened his first two preseason games completing 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, adding 28 yards and another score on 10 carries. The performance earned him the start in Friday’s preseason finale against Jacksonville, where he went 8-of-15 for 57 yards without a touchdown or interception and picked up nine yards on four attempts.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels against the Jacksonville JaguarNathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Tampa Bay lost that game 19-0, but the coaching staff had already seen enough.

In his final season with the Jayhawks, Daniels started all 12 games, throwing for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 404 yards and four more scores on the ground. He also built a reputation off the field, finishing as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and becoming the first four-time team captain in program history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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