Jalon Daniels made his first NFL start in Week 3 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he looked the part of an undrafted rookie thrown into the fire.
Daniels showed flashes of potential, but he had two ill-advised interceptions that spoiled an otherwise promising debut.
Just four days later, he was tasked with leading the Buccaneers on the road against the red-hot Dallas Cowboys in primetime. On Thursday Night Football, the inexperienced rookie Bucs fans had watched just a few days prior was nowhere to be found. Daniels looked like a seasoned veteran out there and led the team to their first win of the season, and his rapid growth deserves more recognition.
Buccaneers have found a hidden gem in undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels
Daniels finished 19-of-25 on Thursday night, completing an impressive 76% of his passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. He added 23 yards on the ground.
Daniels didn’t do anything spectacular, but he didn’t have to, and that’s where the improvement lies. He took what the defense gave him and managed the game effectively. He avoided the catastrophic mistake, and for the most part, played smart, efficient football.
He got a boost from Bucky Irving, who rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown, and the strong running game took a lot of pressure off the rookie quarterback. But that doesn’t take anything away from what Daniels just did in his second career start.
Daniels was listed on the Buccaneers’ initial depth chart as the team’s QB4, but he worked his way up to the backup job behind Baker Mayfield throughout training camp and the preseason. Choosing Daniels over experienced veteran Jake Browning was a serious gamble, but Daniels has justified the organization’s belief in him every step of the way.
Since QB starts were first tracked in 1950, only one QB has done the following in each of his first 2 NFL starts:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 9, 2026
completed 70% of his passes
thrown a TD pass
rushed for 20+ yards
That one QB is Jalon Daniels. He was undrafted. pic.twitter.com/3oi08cnEhr
According to OptaSTATS, he’s the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 70% of his passes, throw a touchdown pass, and rush for 20-plus yards in each of his first two starts. The Buccaneers have something special brewing with this kid, and while nobody wanted to see Mayfield get hurt, the injury has given Daniels an opportunity to gain valuable experience and fast-track his development.
Finding a quarterback with this kind of potential without spending a draft pick is a feather in the cap for Jason Licht and his staff. Daniels was a true hidden gem in undrafted free agency.
Daniels went from an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot to a high-ceiling backup the Bucs could trust in a pinch in a matter of weeks. If he continues to develop at this rate, Tampa Bay could have one of the most valuable backup quarterbacks in the NFL. There’s no question Daniels has a future in this league.
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