Baker Mayfield Had Words For Teammate Who Defied The Odds Making The Buccaneers’ 53-Man Roster

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that Baker Mayfield will remain their starting quarterback for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, but Jalon Daniels will serve as the team's new backup. Mayfield's decision comes as the Buccaneers will only carry two quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster for the 2026 campaign. Daniels, a former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback, beat out Jake Browning and retained Connor Bazelak for the chief backup role.

His selection is a significant achievement, considering he wasn't initially drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Daniels has proven his worth in the preseason, leading the team to five scoring drives in their victories against the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. He completed 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, while adding 37 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Mayfield expressed his pride in his new backup, stating, "I’m proud of Jalon. I think he took tremendous steps from the first time I met him in the off-season to now." He further praised Daniels' hard work and dedication, saying he has "played his tail off, worked hard, worked on some of the things the coaches wanted to get done out of him."