The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have discovered their quarterback of the future in Jalon Daniels, despite adding him to the roster as an undrafted rookie.
Daniels made a strong impression during the Buccaneers’ Preseason Week 1 victory over the New York Jets, earning plenty of praise from the NFL world for his impressive debut.
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Daniels impressed fans at MetLife Stadium on Friday night, making his first appearance for the franchise and helping the Buccaneers secure a 24-16 victory over the Jets.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was particularly impressed by Daniels’ composure in the pocket.
“He went in relaxed, and we knew he could make off-schedule plays outta the pocket, but he played very confident in the pocket,” Bowles said after the game. “He made the right reads. He zipped some throws in there. I thought he played very well.”
After the Jets trimmed Tampa Bay’s advantage to 17-16, the former Kansas Jayhawk responded by leading a crucial 16-play, 65-yard scoring drive. He eventually finished the possession himself, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:24 remaining to help seal the Buccaneers’ victory.
Analysts and beat writers quickly took notice of the undrafted rookie’s poise, decision-making, and ability to process the game after an encouraging night for Tampa Bay.
“It’s crazy that Jalon Daniels didn’t get drafted,” Glenn Naughton of Jet Nation wrote.
“Jalon Daniels has juice,” 10 Tampa Bay Sports Director Evan Closky added.
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“How long before Jayden Daniels sues Jalon Daniels to change his name?” Brian Costello of the New York Post joked, referencing the similarity between the Buccaneers rookie’s name and that of Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
“Jalon Daniels just might be the most impressive Buc we’ve seen tonight. So, so comfortable running the offense. That drive was a clinic,” Nick Geddes of Pewter Report wrote.
Connor Bazelak entered training camp as the No. 3 quarterback behind Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning. As a result, the Buccaneers gave Bazelak the start and allowed him to take the majority of the first-half snaps against the Jets.
However, Daniels ultimately became the standout quarterback of the night in the second half of the game. The Bucs rookie finished Friday’s game with 10 completions on 15 attempts for 111 passing yards and one rushing touchdown.
After spending six years playing college football at Kansas, Daniels went undrafted during the 2026 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers subsequently signed him as a high-upside college free agent.
After his latest showing, Daniels, who finished his last season in college with an 82.1 grade in PFN’s College QB Impact Rankings, is expected to receive significant playing time in Tampa Bay’s remaining preseason games. Those opportunities could prove crucial as he looks to secure his place on the 53-man roster.
Up next, the Buccaneers will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.