Jalon Daniels has put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a real quarterback bind.
After another strong preseason showing, the undrafted rookie has made this a tougher call than the team likely expected when it signed Jake Browning this offseason. Tampa Bay brought Browning in as a seasoned insurance policy for Baker Mayfield, banking on his seven years in the league and 10 career starts to make him the dependable No.
- But through two preseason games, Daniels has been the more intriguing quarterback in the room.
Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs showed the contrast plainly. Browning was solid enough, going 8-of-11 for 84 yards and adding 14 rushing yards while operating behind a shaky backup offensive line that allowed three sacks.
Daniels, though, entered behind the same protection and changed the feel of the offense. He used his movement to extend plays, turned pressure into positives, and helped the Buccaneers string together three straight scoring drives after they had been held scoreless.
He’s simply the more dynamic option.
Daniels also brings a different physical profile to the table. His speed stands out, and so does his arm strength.
Zac Robinson’s offense looks smoother with Daniels running it because he can get outside the pocket and create on the move. Browning, by comparison, does not offer nearly the same threat once the play breaks down.
At the same time, Daniels showed exactly why he went undrafted. His inexperience popped up in obvious ways, from mishandled snaps to missed throws, especially on deep out routes.
That’s the downside of a quarterback who spent most of his college career in the shotgun. The talent is obvious, but so is the work still ahead.
That leaves Tampa Bay with a decision that is bigger than just preseason performance. The Buccaneers have to decide whether they value Browning’s veteran steadiness or Daniels’ upside more at the backup spot this season.
There’s also the roster angle: keeping both quarterbacks would mean carrying three on the 53-man roster, something the team hasn’t done since 2022. If they don’t want to risk losing Daniels, that may be the only way to keep him in Tampa Bay.
Trying to stash him on the practice squad would be risky, too. Daniels would first have to clear waivers, and after the preseason he’s had, that seems unlikely. So even if Tampa Bay isn’t ready to call him the backup, he may still be the most likely quarterback to stick on the roster.
The bigger question is whether the Buccaneers should just stop treating this like a future decision and make it a present one.
If Mayfield goes down for an extended stretch, the season probably isn’t being saved by either quarterback. That’s the uncomfortable reality.
Browning is seen as the safer hand, but the source of that safety is shaky. He went 0-3 last season in Cincinnati and threw more interceptions than touchdowns.
Experience only matters if it actually raises the ceiling.
Daniels, on the other hand, looks like a player Tampa Bay could build around as the QB2 for the long haul. He appears to be a real find for Jason Licht and the front office, and the preseason has only strengthened that case.
If the Buccaneers believe he has a future in red and pewter, then giving him meaningful reps now would make sense. If the worst-case scenario arrives, they might as well accelerate his development instead of leaning on a veteran who may not change the outcome anyway.
That’s the heart of this decision. If Tampa Bay truly thinks Browning can keep them afloat without Mayfield, then the veteran stays ahead.
If not, the smarter swing is Daniels. He’s been too good this preseason to ignore.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Backup Quarterback Question To Weigh
The Browns decision to keep Deshaun Watson atop the depth chart for Week 1 has only sharpened the conversation around Shedeur Sanders, who impressed enough in the preseason to keep himself in the mix as a young quarterback with some real intrigue. After starting seven games as a rookie, Sanders enters the season in a familiar but awkward spot for a team that has to balance patience with the possibility that another club could come calling if it wants a backup with upside.
For the Buccaneers, that is the kind of question that tends to linger once the roster settles and the league starts looking for solutions behind center. Tampa Bay is among the teams mentioned as a possible fit, alongside the Rams, Eagles and Ravens, but nothing has moved beyond speculation at this point. The interesting part is not whether Sanders is available right now, but whether a team like the Bucs decides his talent is worth pressing for before the market tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs May Have Found A Low-Cost Answer To A Troubling Depth Issue
Cody Ford has popped up as a possible low-cost addition for Tampa Bay, a move that would give the Buccaneers another veteran option along an offensive line that could use more reliable depth. Released by the Bengals, Ford brings a familiar blend of experience and versatility, with starts at both guard and tackle over the last five NFL seasons.
There is also a small layer of familiarity here that could matter as Tampa Bay weighs its options. Ford and Baker Mayfield were college teammates at Oklahoma during Mayfields Heisman season in 2017, and that shared history could be part of what makes Ford an appealing fit as the Bucs look for help without making a major financial commitment. [Read more 🡒]
Three Buccaneers Suddenly Under Pressure As Cut Day Gets Closer
With roster cut day drawing closer, the Buccaneers are using the final stretch of training camp to sort out some of the most interesting battles on the roster. The second joint practice against the Jaguars should offer another chance for players on the bubble to make a case, and it comes at a time when the competition has only sharpened across several spots.
Among the names under the most pressure are second-round pick Braswell, tight end Culp and running back Tucker, all of whom are fighting to hold off challengers for a place on the 53-man roster. Their recent playing time has made the picture feel more unsettled than settled, and with camp reps getting harder to come by, every practice snap now carries a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]