Bucs Consider Jalon Daniels Has Created A “Legit” QB Competitors

The Bucs might have discovered one of the vital intriguing undrafted quarterbacks within the NFL, with Jalon Daniels already turning heads through the workforce’s offseason program. Daniels has rapidly made the backup quarterback place battle one to look at this summer season.

Offseason signing Jake Browning will enter coaching camp as the favourite for the No. 2 quarterback job. Nonetheless, Daniels and Connor Bazelak are pushing to make the battle much more aggressive than anticipated. Primarily based on what offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and common supervisor Jason Licht stated final week concerning the room, all eyes will probably be on Daniels’ development.

Zac Robinson Says Jalon Daniels Was The Rookie Who Stood Out In Mini-Camp

The thrill surrounding Jalon Daniels was a major improvement within the aftermath of Bucs rookie mini-camp. Quarterbacks clearly get probably the most consideration, however Daniels is not like the opposite undrafted signal-callers the workforce has introduced in over time. He instantly stands out for his dual-threat capacity, possessing a robust arm and working a 4.65 40-yard sprint.

These traits weren’t sufficient to get him drafted final month, however they intrigued Tampa Bay sufficient to deliver him in.

Zac Robinson was fast to say Daniels by identify when requested about which rookies stood out. In actual fact, he was the one one he talked about.

Bucs QBs coach Chandler Whitmer, QB Jalon Daniels and OC Zac Robinson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Jalon Daniels was a guy we were excited about,” Robinson stated. “We thought he was going to get drafted; we have been actually shocked he didn’t get drafted. He was a man — we introduced him in on a 30 go to and loved spending time [with him]. He’s acquired an excellent power about him; he’s performed a number of soccer as properly at Kansas. He’s had some ups and downs, confronted some adversity, which you like to see from a quarterback dealing with these issues. He stands out, he’s acquired actually good arm expertise, he’s acquired some athleticism, he sees the sport properly, he processes.

“Got to clean up a lot of things fundamentally from college, which most of these guys do, but Jalon I thought did a great job commanding the rookie camp. These guys get in here, and you have to have a quarterback who take charge and get guys lined up. He did a great job with just the operation so, he is one that we are definitely excited about.”

Daniels was given a number of time to develop with the Jayhawks, discovering methods to see the sector and placing collectively spectacular spurts of play throughout his first 4 seasons there. He finally turned Kansas’ full-time starter over his last two seasons. That led to extra rising pains, nevertheless it additionally gave him 49 video games of expertise below his belt. Altogether, Daniels had 9,282 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. He added three seasons of 400-plus dashing yards, with a complete of 1,445 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Bucs QB Jalon Daniels – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures

His playmaking capacity has Jason Licht pumped to see him throughout coaching camp as he continues to understand an NFL offense.

“It’s been a lot of fun watching Jalon Daniels,” Licht stated on the Pewter Report Podcast. “I can predict it’s going to be exciting to watch him in training camp and preseason. He’s got a very good arm, and he’s a really good athlete. He put some good tape out there when he was at Kansas. Sharp kid, natural leader.”

Jake Browning Leads Bucs Backup QB Race, However He’ll Have To Watch Out

Whereas Jalon Daniels will draw probably the most headlines of the Bucs backup quarterbacks given his standing as a rookie, he faces stiff competitors to make the 53-man roster. Forward of him on the depth chart is veteran Jake Browning and second-year undrafted free agent Connor Bazelak.

Browning has probably the most expertise with a 4-6 document as an NFL starter, whereas Bazelak was promising throughout final yr’s preseason. That makes it no simple hill to climb for Daniels, particularly because the fourth arm within the room. With that being stated, Jason Licht reiterated that it’s a legit competitors and alluded to it being extra open than beforehand believed.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“We were really excited to get Jake, and he’s done a really good job, too,” Licht stated of signing Browning this offseason. “I was stressing Daniels just because he’s a rookie, and we were talking about those guys through the rookie mini-camp, but really excited to have him. I would say it’s too early now. We signed him as our backup, and we also signed Daniels to [provide] competition, and we really like “Baze” [Connor Bazelak], too.

“It’s going to be a good competition. It’s always good to do that, we haven’t always had that here where we have several players that we feel excited about and have a lot of positive attributes. That is one to watch for Bucs fans during training camp and during the preseason — I think it’s legit.”

Bucs QB Jalon Daniels – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Relating to offense, Licht and head coach Todd Bowles will certainly contemplate the enter Zac Robinson has on the operation. Bowles will take a hands-off strategy to Robinson this season, as he’s an skilled offensive coordinator who is aware of what he needs at every place. That features quarterback, the place he pointed to Browning having an higher hand with lots of the qualities he seems to be for.

“Jake has played a lot of football,” Robinson stated. “He’s incredibly smart, he can process, he’s very accurate, he can move around in the pocket well enough to extend some plays. He was a guy that you’ve seen for a long time, obviously he’s had an extended amount of time in Cincinnati. I’ve always just kind of liked his game from afar just because how clean he sees the game… As long as he’s got time in the pocket, he throws it accurately.”

The way it all shakes out stays to be seen, and Jalon Daniels can have each likelihood to show the offseason hype is warranted. The Bucs clearly imagine he’s greater than a camp arm, and if his early momentum carries into preseason motion, Tampa Bay’s backup quarterback battle might develop into one of many workforce’s most compelling camp storylines.