The Buccaneers obviously do not want to be without Baker Mayfield, but now that Jalon Daniels is forced into the starting lineup, Tampa Bay has an opportunity to show an entirely different version of its offense. What makes the rookie intriguing is what he can create with his legs and how that ability could force defenses to prepare for something the Bucs have not consistently had at quarterback.
Daniels was a legitimate dual threat during his six seasons at Kansas. He appeared in 49 games and finished his college career with 1,445 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. Those 23 scores tied the Kansas record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. He also became just the second player in school history to surpass 10,000 yards of total
offense. His best rushing season came in 2022 when he ran for 425 yards and seven touchdowns in only nine games. He followed that with 439 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2024 before adding another 404 yards and four scores during his final season. Tampa Bay can incorporate designed quarterback runs, read option concepts, and run-pass options that force edge defenders to make a decision on every snap. Instead of immediately crashing toward Bucky Irving or another running back, defenders have to respect the possibility that Daniels will keep the ball and get outside.
It could also help an offensive line that just had a miserable afternoon against Minnesota. Daniels cannot fix protection problems by himself, but his mobility can make life more difficult for a pass rush. A defender winning his matchup does not necessarily mean the play is over. Move the pocket. Use bootlegs. Give him designed quarterback runs. Mix in read options. Let him use his legs in the red zone. Give him opportunities to turn broken plays into first downs. With Mayfield, defenses are primarily worried about Tampa Bay’s running backs on the ground. With Daniels, the quarterback becomes part of the rushing attack too. That extra threat can change numbers in the box and potentially create opportunities for Irving and the rest of the offense. There will be growing pains. Daniels is still an undrafted rookie preparing for his first NFL start, and preseason success does not guarantee regular season success. But he brings something Tampa Bay has not had at quarterback in a long time.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: How Jalon Daniels’ mobility could change the Bucs offense
