Instant takeaways from Bucs' preseason opening win over Jets

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the preseason with a 24-16 victory over the New York Jets and with Tampa Bay resting its starters, the preseason opener was an opportunity for young players and depth pieces to make their cases. Several did exactly that, while others left the Buccaneers with more questions to answer. Jalon Daniels stole the show Jalon Daniels couldn't have asked for a better opportunity, and he made the most of it. With Baker Mayfield sitting and Jake Browning sidelined, Daniels received significant work and led two touchdown drives. The undrafted rookie showed impressive arm talent, repeatedly fitting beautiful throws into tight windows while bringing an energy to the offense that was noticeable immediately. Daniels finished 10-of-15 for 111 yards while adding 9 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Two of his incompletions were also dropped passes. After entering camp competing for a roster spot, Daniels suddenly has a much stronger argument for sticking around. David Walker refuses to slow down Walker continued the torrid start he's had since returning from the ACL injury that cost him his entire rookie season. Even while dealing with constant double teams, Walker continued creating pressure. His ability to win through that attention helped lead to an interception, showing just how disruptive he can be even when offenses specifically account for him. After dominating practice throughout camp, Walker's preseason debut provided another indication that his 2026 comeback could be a major storyline. The cornerback depth looks legitimate Ayden Garnes continued making his case with an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown, while Damarion “Pepe” Williams also showed why he's becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. Garnes' pick six was one of the biggest plays of the night. Tampa Bay may have entered camp concerned about its cornerback depth. That doesn't look quite as concerning now. Chris Braswell needs to make his presence felt Not every young defender had the same kind of night. With Tampa Bay's linebacker and edge rotation becoming increasingly crowded, Chris Braswell needed an opportunity to separate himself. Instead, he struggled to consistently make an impact. If Braswell cannot find a way to make an impact, and soon, he could see himself on the outside looking in come roster cutdown time. Ted Hurst looks as advertised Hurst's strong training camp continued into game action. The third-round pick showed the size, athleticism, and contested catch ability that made him such an intriguing prospect. After consistently making difficult catches in practice, Hurst looked comfortable when the lights came on. Although he couldn't complete the catch after a poor throw from Connor Bazelak, Hurst ran a perfect slant near the goal line, beating the defender immediately, which would have been an easy touchdown and a perfect cherry on top for his debut. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Instant takeaways from Bucs' preseason opening win over Jets