Former Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels participated in the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this week. Daniels was in the Kansas football program for six seasons, and on Tuesday night, he generated buzz at the Shrine Bowl.
As a member of the East team, he did what every player wants to do in a pre-NFL Draft showcase bowl: he made noise for NFL scouts. Daniels led a scoring drive deep into the first half, showing off his dual-threat skill set with a scramble touchdown run that gave East all the momentum going into halftime.
He then showed off his arm with a dart to the back of the endzone for a two-point conversion.
With his solid performance, with many NFL fans and Draft scouts tuning in, Daniels rightfully generated some 2026 NFL Draft Buzz. The Kansas quarterback had some NFL fans thinking their team should take a chance on Daniels in the Draft.
Daniel's draft stock is considered a wild card ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, but his performance for Team East certainly increased his stock. NFL Mock Draft Database has the former Kansas Jayhawk projected as a sixth-round pick. Some fans see Daniels as a valuable asset as a potential backup QB for their team.
Although Daniels and Team East didn't come out on top, he made the most of the opportunity. The West team defeated the East team 21-17 on Tuesday at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The NFL Mock Draft Database lists the Philadelphia Eagles as a potential fit for Daniels. This makes sense considering the current Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts, is a dual-threat mobile quarterback like Daniels.
"The tape reveals a quarterback whose explosive athleticism and deep ball prowess create genuine excitement, yet whose inconsistencies and medical file generate equal concern among evaluators," wrote Eli Cooper of NFLDraftBuzz.com. "Daniels possesses the rare ability to uncork lasers downfield with impressive velocity and accuracy when his mechanics sync up properly, making him a legitimate vertical threat that can stress defenses at multiple levels. However, his struggles with timing and precision in the short and intermediate passing game expose a concerning disconnect between his physical gifts and operational consistency that becomes magnified under pressure."
Daniels could certainly bring strengths like his athletic ability and quick release to an NFL QB room, but his injury history and other weaknesses like deep ball accuracy could make some teams shy away from drafting the former Jayhawk.