Bucs GM Jason Licht.
After a week in which backup quarterbacks Case Keenum, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota won games as starting quarterbacks — two against excellent football teams — the Bucs’ decisions at backup QB come into major focus.
Baker Mayfield got injured late in Sunday’s sad loss to the Vikings. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels entered for the game’s final drive with no timeouts and understandably couldn’t muster a comeback drive.
Now, Daniels will start Sunday in a must-win game against the Packers.
Why is Daniels the Bucs backup QB? Because the front office decided long ago it didn’t want to invest at the position.
It was a judgment call, and a somewhat strange one considering Mayfield was banged up for more than half of last season, playing through various injuries with a style not rooted in self-preservation.
Joe found the backup QB decision odd because of the Bucs’ expectations of a winning season, and a good postseason run. An undrafted rookie?
On the flip side, Mayfield not missing a game since he arrived in 2023, and the Bucs not starting a backup quarterback since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2018, certainly weighed on the Bucs’ decision. Understandably so.
A decision was made to sign veteran QB Jake Browning this offseason. The 30-year-old was a guy the Bucs liked and he came with a bottom-tier salary. Not only did Browning not make the team, he currently has no team. And the Bucs rolled with Daniels.
Joe believes Buccaneers Ring of Honor Jason Licht and Todd Bowles should be judged on how Daniels peforms over the next few games. That’s fair. They approved of Daniels and thought he was a smart call after Browning didn’t cut it.
Daniels is entitled to a learning curve and Joe is not saying he has to dominate — or play like Mariota did beating the Seahawks or Keenum against the Eagles last night. But Daniels better look somewhat competent and promising. That’s not too much to ask.
For those wondering, Mariota is earning about $7 million this season, with Winston around $4 million and Keenum about $3 million.
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