Jalon Daniels lands a late-round projection in ESPN's final mock draft, potentially joining the Miami Dolphins and kicking off KU's NFL Draft presence.
Jalon Daniels Headlines KU Presence in Final ESPN Mock Draft
Kansas is not walking into the 2026 NFL Draft with a loaded class, but there is still a real chance to hear a name called. According to Jordan Reid’s final mock draft for ESPN, that name is Jalon Daniels.
Reid projects Daniels to go No. 238 overall to the Miami Dolphins, which puts him late in the seventh round. That lines up with most projections right now. Daniels has consistently been viewed as a Day 3 quarterback with upside, not a finished product.
The fit is interesting. Miami is reshaping its quarterback room, and that opens the door for Daniels to come in and compete early, even if it starts at the backend of the depth chart. His dual threat ability and arm talent give him something to work with at the next level.
That said, the concerns are not going away. Decision making and turnovers showed up at times over his final seasons at Kansas, and that is something teams will want to clean up. But when you are talking about late round quarterbacks, traits matter, and Daniels has those.
The bigger takeaway here is what is not in the mock. No other Kansas players were selected in Reid’s full 257 pick projection. Guys like Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and Bryce Foster did not make the cut.
That does not mean they are out of the picture. Other analysts have those players, along with Enrique Cruz Jr., in that fringe draft range or priority free agent tier. Once the draft ends, expect a handful of Jayhawks to land deals quickly.
Bottom line, this is not a star-heavy draft class for Kansas like last year, but there is still talent. Daniels looks like the best bet to get drafted, and after everything he did for the program, it would be fitting to see him hear his name called. Now it just comes down to the spot.
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Kansas Adds Instant Impact Guard Leroy Blyden Jr. Out of Portal
Kansas needed a guard who could come in and produce right away, and Bill Self got exactly that with Leroy Blyden Jr..
This is a big time addition for the Jayhawks. Blyden was one of the most productive freshman guards in the country last season at Toledo, averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 assists, and shooting over 40 percent from three. He was not just putting up numbers either, he was doing it efficiently and consistently. Freshman of the Year in the MAC says a lot.
Bill Self made it clear what stands out.
“We felt Leroy was one of the very best guard prospects in the portal, period. He can score, he shoots it with range, and he’s efficient.”
That is exactly what Kansas needed. A guard who can both run the offense and go get a bucket. Blyden checks both boxes. He has real feel as a lead guard but can also play off the ball and space the floor. The ability to get downhill and make plays is something this roster was missing.
You look at the production and it jumps out. Double figures in 24 games, 13 games over 20 points, and a 36 point game. He also showed playmaking with multiple high assist games, including 13 in one outing. Add in 1.8 steals per game and you are getting a two way player.
The shooting is what really elevates his fit. Over 40 percent from three on solid volume is huge for a Kansas team that needs more spacing. Pair that with an 84 percent free throw mark and it is clear he is a reliable scorer.
There is also upside here. He is only a sophomore and already producing at a high level. In Self’s system, with better talent around him, there is room for him to take another step.
Bottom line, this is not just depth. This is a guy who is going to play real minutes and have a real role. Kansas needed a guard like this, and they got one.