Bucs give Jalon Daniels extended look in preseason finale vs. Jaguars as QB competition centers on No. 2 job

Tampa Bay’s quarterback picture is narrowing to a single, practical question entering the final week of the preseason: who is best positioned to hold the No. 2 role behind Baker Mayfield. On Friday night, the Buccaneers are planning to start Jalon Daniels in the team’s preseason finale against Jacksonville and to let him work for more than a short audition, with a stretch expected to cover the first half and possibly more, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports via Yahoo Sports.

For Daniels, the game is more than a time-filler. It is the closest thing to a live evaluation window coaches can create in the preseason, because starting snaps against another opponent forces decisions under pressure, including how quickly he processes coverage, when he pulls the ball down, and how he handles game-script moments that do not show up as cleanly in practice.

The Buccaneers are also framing this particular start as an opportunity, not just a developmental exercise. Per the same report, Tampa Bay is giving Daniels a chance to compete for the backup job to Mayfield. That matters because the No. 2 quarterback role is not only about depth. It is about readiness, grasp of the play-calling cadence with the second unit, and the ability to avoid stalling the offense if the starter is unavailable.

Daniels’ assignment for the night, as described by Stroud, suggests Tampa Bay wants sustained reads rather than a one-drive look. Starting him and keeping him in play beyond the initial two quarters would typically indicate the staff believes the quarterback contest can be separated by how a passer responds across multiple possessions, including third-down situations and adjustments after the defense sees what he does early.

The opponent, Jacksonville, adds another layer to the evaluation. Preseason games against another roster are where timing with receivers either forms or breaks, and where quarterbacks learn whether their preferred routes and tempo match what defenders are actually showing. Even if the overall results of preseason do not carry regular-season weight, the process does, especially for a quarterback chasing an actual job rather than just roster reps.

For Mayfield, the arrangement keeps focus on the depth situation. Mayfield remains the anchor of the offense entering the regular season, and the backup competition becomes a key sorting mechanism for who can carry the offense when the starters do not. Tampa Bay’s choice to start Daniels in the finale implies the coaching staff does not want to leave the decision entirely to late training-camp impressions.

What to watch next is straightforward but telling. If Daniels can manage longer drives with the No. 2 unit, show control in the pocket, and make timely throws on scheduled and improvised plays, that will strengthen the case that he is pushing for the top backup spot. If he struggles with ball security, reads, or timing, Tampa Bay could lean toward a different backup profile going into the final roster decisions.

Because the available reporting centers on the plan to start Daniels and keep him in for an extended stretch, the exact usage details (how deep into the third quarter, and how many offensive series he will receive) should be confirmed once the teams release their inactives and the game unfolds. For now, the storyline is clear: Tampa Bay wants its next quarterback decision to be made under lights, not in a vacuum.