RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Todd Bowles has been in search of his future franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay. And for a while, many have imagined that it might be Baker Mayfield after he made waves after joining the franchise in 2023. But after regressing last season, it's becoming clear he might not be the guy for the role. But one rookie quarterback showed in the team's preseason opener on Friday that he might be able to handle the pressure.
The signal caller in question is Jalon Daniels, who joined the Buccaneers as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Daniels got his first opportunity to shine on Friday as the Buccaneers battled the Jets, walking away with a 24-16 victory. And playing a large part in that win was Daniels – he went 10-of-15 passing for 111 yards and added three carries for nine yards and one rushing touchdown in the game.
The Buccaneers may have their QB of the future in Jalon Daniels 👀 10/15 111 Pass Yards Rushing TD pic.twitter.com/6MKC8dy3q9
— DraftKings Sports (@DKSports) August 15, 2026 The only other quarterback to take the field for the Buccaneers on Friday was Connor Bazelak, who went just 12-of-20 for 72 yards while also being sacked. But while he was the best quarterback on the field for Tampa Bay on Friday, that might not mean a lot for Daniels' spot on the depth chart. The top two quarterbacks on the depth chart, Mayfield and Jake Browning, did not see action.
But while Browning is expected to be the backup, the reason he missed the game is a back injury suffered earlier in training camp, and he hasn't exactly been consistent throughout his career – he went 0-3 in his starts with the Bengals last year, throwing for just six touchdowns to eight interceptions. So if Daniels can continue to perform as he did on Friday, he may take over the backup spot.
And if Daniels moves up the depth chart and Mayfield's inconsistency continues this season, there is a world in which Bowles might turn to the promising dual-threat rookie to save his job and potentially be the future franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay. The quarterback room for the Bucs will be one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Did the Buccaneers find their future franchise QB in preseason opener?
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