‘No Shot’ — Ex-Buccaneers RB Dismisses Baker Mayfield’s Chances of Reclaiming QB1 Role After Jalon Daniels’ Cowboys Win

Colin Witte Fri, October 9, 2026 at 9:07 PM UTC

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‘No Shot’ — Ex-Buccaneers RB Dismisses Baker Mayfield’s Chances of Reclaiming QB1 Role After Jalon Daniels’ Cowboys WinThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally found the win column on Thursday night, and Jalon Daniels may have accidentally created a much bigger conversation on the way there. Daniels walked into Dallas as an undrafted rookie, made his second NFL start, and left with a 24-16 win over the Cowboys.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally found the win column on Thursday night, and Jalon Daniels may have accidentally created a much bigger conversation on the way there.

Daniels walked into Dallas as an undrafted rookie, made his second NFL start, and left with a 24-16 win over the Cowboys. By the time “Speakeasy” went live afterward, LeSean McCoy had already seen enough to make Baker Mayfield’s eventual return a lot more awkward.

LeSean McCoy Has Zero Interest in Handing the Job Back

When the question came up about whether Mayfield would still be Tampa Bay’s quarterback for the future, McCoy did not need a long answer.

“No shot. No shot. No deal. No deal,” McCoy said.

Earlier in the segment, McCoy had said, “Listen, I know ya’ll pay Baker Mayfield and all that, but this young boy… I know they pay Baker, but the Baker deal ain’t crazy. I think it’s like two years type of thing.”

Mayfield’s contract makes that easier said than done. Tampa Bay signed him to a three-year, $165 million extension in September, including $120 million in total guarantees and $70 million fully guaranteed at signing. That gives the Buccaneers a substantial financial commitment to Mayfield beyond this season, meaning any move toward Daniels would involve more than simply deciding which quarterback is playing better.

However, that is still a pretty aggressive verdict after two Daniels starts, but the rookie gave McCoy plenty of material Thursday. Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, avoided a turnover, and helped Tampa Bay steal its first win of the season as a heavy road underdog.

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The performance looked much cleaner than his first start against Green Bay. Daniels played with enough confidence that the panel spent part of the segment marveling at his willingness to attack long-yardage situations and keep plays alive with his legs.

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There is also the small matter of Tampa Bay suddenly having life. The Bucs opened 0-4, lost every game by one score, and were headed into Dallas without Mayfield. Daniels helped flip a 10-7 halftime deficit into a 24-10 lead before the defense finished the job.

That is how a backup-quarterback story turns into a quarterback controversy before the injured starter can even get his thumb right.

Daniels Has Given Tampa Bay Something to Think About

Mayfield remains sidelined with the dislocated right thumb he suffered in Week 3. Daniels has now started twice in his place, and the early comparison has become hard to ignore.

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PFN’s breakdown of Tampa Bay’squarterback debate showed Daniels producing better efficiency through his first two starts, even with the obvious warning that both samples remain small.

The livePFN QB Impact Rankings now have Daniels at No. 23 with a 72.5 grade after the Dallas win. His first two starts have taken Tampa Bay from searching for something to arguing over what happens when Mayfield is ready again.

Daniels has also brought a different kind of juice. He has 87 rushing yards across his first three appearances and looked comfortable extending plays Thursday while Tampa Bay leaned on Bucky Irving and a huge night from the running game.

McCoy knows how quickly a hot hand can become a real problem for an incumbent. He spent the 2020 season in Tampa and won a Super Bowl there, so he also knows how little patience exists once a team believes it can win now.

When Mayfield is cleared, Tampa Bay will have a decision to make, but it seems like McCoy has already made his.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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Source: “AOL Sports”