Updated October 8, 2026, 9:22 p.m. ET
Editor’s note: Follow the Buccaneers-Cowboys game with our live blog, here.
The first rookie quarterback to make a start during the 2026 NFL season was not the No. 1 pick in the draft, Fernando Mendoza. It also wasn’t first-round pick Ty Simpson or second-day pick Carson Beck, who many thought would become the Arizona Cardinals’ starter sooner rather than later.
Instead, it was undrafted signal-caller Jalon Daniels who got a first chance to represent the 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class on the professional stage.
Daniels started the Buccaneers’ Week 4 loss to the Green Bay Packers after the team’s normal starter, Baker Mayfield, injured his thumb late in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Daniels performed reasonably well in his first start, completing 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 55 yards on eight carries. However, he also threw two interceptions and was sacked three times in the 17-14 loss.
Mayfield is expected to be out for several more weeks with his thumb injury, so Daniels will continue to have the opportunity to prove himself after beating out Jake Browning for Tampa Bay’s backup job during the preseason.
Here’s more to know about Daniels as he prepares to lead the Buccaneers into battle against the Dallas Cowboys on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 5.
Where did Jalon Daniels go to college?
Daniels played his entire six-year college career at Kansas. He quickly became a starter for the Jayhawks, starting six of nine games as a freshman, and appeared in a total of 49 games during his time at the school.
Daniels’ start against the Packers in Week 4 marked the first time a Jayhawks quarterback started an NFL game since Mike Norseth in 1988. And Daniels was the first Kansas quarterback to start a game and attempt a pass since Frank Seurer in 1987.
Jalon Daniels College Statistics
Daniels finished his career second all-time among Kansas quarterbacks in passing yards (9,282) and passing touchdowns (67). Only Todd Reesing (11,194 yards, 90 touchdowns) is ahead of him in each category.
Below is a complete look at Daniels’ stats during his six seasons at Kansas:
- Completion rate: 61.5%
- Overtaking course: 9,282
- Pass the TDs:67
- INT:31
- Yards/attempt: 7.8
- Passing mark: 140.2
- Door: 420
- Rushed construction sites: 1,445
- Rushed TDs:23
Daniels was named to the All-Big 12 second team in 2022, when he completed 66.1% of his passes for 2,014 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 425 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Daniels also had a quality super-senior season, in which he completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 404 yards and four scores on the ground. That helped him enter the discussion as a potential NFL-caliber quarterback, with some NFL Draft analysts viewing the 23-year-old as a potential Day 3 pick.
Was Jalon Daniels drafted?
Despite his strong final season at Kansas, Daniels was not among the 10 quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. He fell to the undrafted ranks but was quickly picked up by the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay gave him a $25,000 signing bonus, indicating he was one of their priority free agents after the draft.
Jalon Daniels Contract Details
Daniels signed a three-year contract with the Buccaneers after going undrafted. Below are the full details of the pact, according to Spotrac.com.
- Term: 3 years
- Total value: $3.125 million
- Average Annual Value (AAV): $1.04 million
- Money guaranteed: $272,500
Buccaneers QB Depth Chart
Daniels is one of four quarterbacks currently in the Buccaneers organization. The hierarchical order within this unit is as follows:
- Baker Mayfield (injured)
- Milestone Daniels
- Easton Stick (practice squad)
- Brett Rypien (practice squad)
Stick served as Daniels’ backup in the Buccaneers’ Week 4 game against the Packers. The 31-year-old joined the team on the eve of the 2026 NFL season to become Tampa Bay’s third quarterback after Daniels beat out Browning for the backup job.
Stick made four career NFL starts, losing all of them. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,143 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and knows Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from their time with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Rypien signed with Tampa Bay’s practice squad on September 30. The 30-year-old has played for 10 different NFL teams, going 2-2 in four starts despite passing just 58.3 percent for 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Is Jalon Daniels related to Jayden Daniels?
Although Jalon Daniels shares a surprisingly similar name to Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the two are not related.
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