The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a surprising decision at quarterback when they handed the QB2 job to Jalon Daniels.
Daniels entered the offseason as an undrafted rookie with plenty to prove. He ultimately beat out veteran Jake Browning, who was released after losing the competition.
For general manager Jason Licht, the decision came down to something simple.
Daniels earned it.
Licht Was Blown Away by Daniels
Licht acknowledged how unusual it is for an undrafted rookie to win a backup quarterback competition.
“Well, that’s an incredible accomplishment for an undrafted rookie to get that position,” Licht said via the team’s website. “I can’t think in the last decade [of] another time it’s happened. But the number one thing is he earned it. It wasn’t just given to him.”
That distinction clearly mattered to Tampa Bay.
“You don’t get that honor by just being lucky or having somebody pull strings for you,” Licht added. “He earned it. Like I said, he earned the trust of his teammates, his coaches.”
That’s a major endorsement for a player who entered the summer with no guarantees.
Now, Daniels will begin the season directly behind Baker Mayfield on Tampa Bay’s depth chart.
The Buccaneers Chose Talent Over Experience
Licht also explained why the Buccaneers were comfortable choosing Daniels over Browning.
The experience argument clearly favored Browning. Daniels, meanwhile, had never taken an NFL regular-season snap.
Tampa Bay simply believed Daniels’ talent and preparation outweighed that experience gap.
“You can go back and forth with the experience argument, but we’d rather have a very talented, prepared, inexperienced quarterback than going with experience just for the sake of saying the guy is experienced,” Licht said via heavy.com.
That philosophy ultimately led Tampa Bay toward Daniels.
“You guys have seen him out here practice during camp, [he] did some really great things in the game,” Licht said.
Licht understands there will be growing pains.
“So, like all rookie quarterbacks, whether you’re the number one overall pick or undrafted, there’s going to be a learning curve, there’s going to be ups and downs, but we feel good about where he’s at, his trajectory, and we’re excited,” Licht added.
Daniels Changed the Conversation Quickly
The Buccaneers apparently began seriously considering Daniels for the backup role before their first preseason game.
Licht said he and Bowles initially liked what they were seeing from the entire quarterback group. Daniels’ performance against the Jets changed the conversation.
“I think it was before our first preseason game, we loved what we were seeing out here, what we were getting from Zac [Robinson] and Chandler [Whitmer] and T.J. [Yates],” Licht said.
“Then I think after the first preseason game with the Jets, I think the conversation started going towards, well, he’s got to prove that he can’t be the number two more so than he’s got to prove that he can be.”
That’s quite the turnaround.
Daniels threw for 111 yards in his preseason debut before adding 71 yards in his second game. He also helped lead Tampa Bay to a victory in that second contest.
Now Daniels Gets His Opportunity
Daniels’ path to the NFL has been unconventional.
The former Kansas star finished his college career with 9,282 passing yards and 1,445 rushing yards across six seasons. His 6-foot frame also raised questions about whether his physical profile would translate.
Daniels has already started answering those questions.
The preseason gave him opportunities to make plays, and he consistently gave the Buccaneers reasons to keep watching.
Now, those performances have earned him a legitimate opportunity.
Baker Mayfield remains firmly entrenched as Tampa Bay’s starter. However, the Buccaneers clearly believe Daniels gives them a talented and prepared option behind him.
For an undrafted rookie to win that trust before playing a regular-season snap is remarkable.
Daniels didn’t simply win the QB2 job.
According to Licht, he earned it.
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