Despite the steep odds facing undrafted free agents, the record-breaking former Kansas star embraces his NFL dream in Tampa Bay, fueled by veteran mentorship and a coaching staff's belief.
While the odds of quarterback Jalon Daniels making it in the NFL as an undrafted free agent are slim, the former Kansas star is enjoying his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Daniels talked to reporters after OTAs on Thursday, saying the Bucs immediately made him feel wanted.
"I kind of just fell in love with the staff, how much they poured into me just even on my 30 visit, just how much I felt I was going to be able to learn from the coaching staff here, the environment, the teammates that I now have that I met when I was on my 30 visit," Daniels said. "When I got the opportunity to be able to come here after the draft, I was like, 'Alright, Tampa Bay is going to be the place I go.'"
Tampa Bay is happy to have a guy like Daniels. There aren't many college quarterbacks this decade who left school with more experience.
Daniels started his career in the middle of the COVID pandemic and wrapped up his six seasons this past November. Daniels racked up the second-most passing yards in Kansas history (9,282), the second-most passing touchdowns (67), and had the second-highest completion percentage (61.5). He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 23 touchdowns, the most ever by a KU QB.
One would think that, because he was in college for six years, Daniels would be a little older than the average rookie. But because he entered college as a 17-year-old, Daniels is still fairly young at 23 and won't turn 24 until late October.
With the Bucs, Daniels also has the advantage of watching a guy who knows a thing or two about playing in the Big 12.
Daniels had just turned 15 when Baker Mayfield and his Oklahoma Sooners took on Kansas in Lawrence in November 2017. Before the game, Kansas decided not to shake Mayfield's hand after the coin toss, and later, got him with a late hit.
After OU went ahead 27-3, Mayfield taunted Kansas with a lewd gesture, and Kansas soon fell to 1-10.
Kansas finished 3-9 the year before Daniels arrived. Daniels led the Jayhawks to their first bowl appearance since 2008 in 2022 and guided them to a 9-4 season in 2023, finishing with a victory over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
If Daniels' NFL career lasts half as long as his college career did, he'd have done better than a lot of undrafted free agents. But regardless of where Daniels is in a few years or even a few months, he's loving life now.
"It's all about being able to have fun," he said. "If you're going out there and having fun and not worrying about anything external, just being able to make sure that you're handling your assignment every single play, you're going to go out there and have a blast. Being at the NFL level is a dream come true, and I won't take any of it for granted. When the preseason does come, I'm going to go out there and have fun every single day."
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