Tampa Bay bolsters its quarterback depth by signing former Kansas QB Jalon Daniels after Teddy Bridgewater’s departure, adding a new All-Big 12 arm behind Baker Mayfield.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback depth chart just got more interesting, with the team adding Jalon Daniels as a new backup option behind starter Baker Mayfield.
That move arrives after the Buccaneers lost Teddy Bridgewater, their 2025 backup, to the Detroit Lions.. Tampa is comfortable at the top with Mayfield. but NFL teams live and die by having capable insurance at quarterback—especially with a position that takes constant strain from hit after hit and the weekly churn of injuries.
Mayfield’s season showed both the promise and the fragility of an offense dependent on health.. He started the year in rhythm, even carrying early MVP-level momentum, then cooled as injuries mounted to his receiving group.. Mike Evans. Chris Godwin Jr.. and Sterling Shephard collectively missed 21 games. a factor that can change a quarterback’s workload and the timing of entire routes.
Still. Mayfield finished with 3. 693 passing yards. 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. and he added a powerful rushing element of his own—382 rushing yards. a career high. plus a touchdown.. That dual-threat production matters for Tampa because it turns short. imperfect plays into viable gains and helps the offense stay functional when the downfield passing window tightens.
Behind Mayfield, Tampa already had options, including Jake Browning and second-year quarterback Connor Bazelak.. But adding Daniels signals the Buccaneers want more than experience and roster familiarity—they want a specific kind of developmental arm with a track record from college and the ability to learn the professional pace.
Daniels is coming off a college career that included six years of experience, and he earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition.. Across his tenure. he threw for 9. 282 yards with 67 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. while also producing on the ground with 1. 451 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.. That blend is particularly relevant in today’s NFL. where quarterback mobility and play-extension can be as valuable as pure pocket accuracy.
Kansas’s overall results were uneven—finishing at 5-7 in Daniels’ final season—but his individual production still trended upward.. He set personal bests in passing yards (2. 531) and touchdowns (22). and even with a losing record. the numbers suggest he could handle a heavy workload and deliver when called upon.
The Buccaneers’ decision to bring him in right after the 2026 NFL draft reflects a broader reality of roster building: backup quarterbacks are increasingly expected to be more than static placeholders.. Teams need players who can run the offense. absorb the system quickly. and take snaps in real game conditions—when a starter goes down mid-drive or mid-season.
From a human perspective, it’s also about security for a franchise and its fan base.. Quarterback depth isn’t a headline item when everything goes right. but when it doesn’t. it can determine whether a season becomes a competitive run or a cautious rebuild.. For Tampa. having Mayfield as a starter is one thing; having a credible Plan B is another. and Daniels looks like the kind of developmental project that could grow into that role.
The Buccaneers will now focus on what Daniels can translate from college—tempo. decision-making. and adapting to NFL coverage concepts—while integrating him into the day-to-day rhythm behind Mayfield.. If he impresses early in the learning curve. the signing becomes more than a depth move; it becomes a statement about Tampa’s willingness to keep evolving its quarterback room even after securing its starter.