Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels was one of 15 QBs invited to the 2026 NFL combine. Projected as a sixth-round pick with an overall ranking of No. 199, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the Kansas quarterback understands that simply being at the NFL combine was a milestone.
NFL Mock Draft Database“I mean, man, it’s honestly, truly, a blessing to be here today,” Daniels said. “There’s been a lot of situations that’s happened in my life that people would probably say I wouldn’t even be here today. I don’t take any of this for granted. I’m taking it all in, every single second that I’m here. Being at the NFL combine is a dream come true.”
Daniels posted a 4.66-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58 10-yard split, reinforcing the mobility that defined much of his career at Kansas. He also met with multiple teams, including the Green Bay Packers, embracing what he calls one of his favorite parts of the process, talking football.
“I love to be able to talk football,” Daniels said. “Being able to learn more about the game and being able to not — you don’t really know everything about the game of football, so the more I get to talk to these NFL coaches … ‘OK, so this is how you go about this protection, this is how you go about this concept.’”
Daniels, who spent his entire college career with the Jayhawks, said his love for the game stems from its team-first nature.
“You honestly don’t just look at them as teammates anymore, you start to look at them as your brothers,” Daniels said.
While mock drafts currently slot him as a late-round selection, Daniels’ approach remains unchanged, grateful for the opportunity and determined to maximize it.
Jalon Daniels at the NFL Combine:
“I mean, man, it’s honestly, truly, a blessing to be here today. There’s been a lot of situations that’s happened in my life that people would probably say I wouldn’t even be here today. I don’t take any of this for granted. I’m taking it all in, every single second that I’m here. Being at the NFL combine is a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming of being in this position, being able to stand on this podium before you guys since I was 7 years old. So, being here means everything and I know I’m blessed to be here.”
“I mean, football is — I can’t name another sport that has you out there competing with 10 other guys in a team-oriented setting where all 11 of you have to be on the same page to go be able to go out there and execute. Especially, on the offensive front. And I think being a part of a team atmosphere was something I fell in love with, because you’re not only going out there to compete with 10 other guys, you’re going out there to go be able to compete with guys who you continue to work on everything with throughout the whole entire offseason, throughout all the offseason workouts, all the weight room activities, all the bonding things that you’re doing with these teammates. You honestly don’t just look at them as teammates anymore, you start to look at them as your brothers.”
“I love to be able to talk football. I think talking ball is one of the things that I fell in love with doing, being able to learn more about the game and being able to not — you don’t really know everything about the game of football, so the more I get to talk to these NFL coaches, especially when I was at the Shrine Bowl, being able to realize that, ‘OK, so this is how you go about this protection, this is how you go about this concept. How is your drop back to this play, to this play and to that play?’”
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