Jalon Daniels Has NFL Draft Traits Scouts Keep Coming Back To

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is an experienced prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. With 45 career starts under his belt, there isn't much Daniels hasn't seen. That's been a huge asset throughout the pre-draft process as he displays character, maturity, and leadership.

Daniels recently spoke exclusively with NFL Draft On SI. Daniels discussed how his experience is aiding him during the pre-draft interview process with NFL teams, balancing being aggressive with taking checkdowns, extending the pocket with his legs, and more.

NFL Draft: Kansas QB Jalon Daniels Impressing Teams With Leadership

JM: You threw the ball a career-high 319 times in 2025 and you leave Kansas with nearly 1,200 passing attempts. How do you think that experience is going to help you transition to the next level?

Jalon Daniels: For one, I obviously feel truly blessed to continue playing the game that I love so much. I have to praise Jesus Christ for the opportunity. I think every situation you go through in life, both good and bad, highs and lows, trials and tribulations, they are meant to set you up to be successful for whatever comes next. Through everything I've experienced my entire football career, I think I’m as prepared as I can be for the position I find myself in today.

JM: You also threw a personal-best 22 touchdowns this past season. What do you think led to your improvement?

Jalon Daniels: A lot of credit goes to working with Jordan Palmer last offseason. That allowed me to go out there and play freely. I think that that's very big at this position. And I have to give credit to all of the new wide receivers I had at my disposal as well.

Going from 2020 to 2024, I basically had the same receiving core my entire career. Going into the 2025 season, we basically had to get a whole new core, one through six on the depth chart. Being able to go through the offseason with them, working alongside them with Jordan Palmer, we gained that camaraderie and trust.

I'm someone who believes you can only lead guys as far as they trust you. And the more you have that trust from your receivers, those guys are about to war with you. The more you're able to be confident with one another, the better you play. It also adds a layer of comfort when you need to have those difficult conversations.

Jalon Daniels - Kansas — Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (QB06) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

JM: That preparation led to better results. How do you balance being aggressive with taking what the defense gives you?

Jalon Daniels: You need to have a natural feel for that. The greatest quarterbacks have a natural feel for the game, a great feel for when they should teeter that line or cross that line.It's honestly just a feel for the game.

Especially when you know where you're at sticks wise, where your first-down marker is, whether you’re winning or losing the game. All of that goes into your decision-making process. Whether you have to take the deep shot right now because you don't know if you'll get the chance to again later.

I think it's all about being calculated with it. But as far as being aggressive and being conservative, I think it’s more about balancing the two. The better you're able to do that, you can put the team in the best position to go out there and win games.

JM: You also have some nice escapability to extend the pocket and hurt teams with your legs. Talk to me about that aspect of your game.

Jalon Daniels: I truly believe that being able to move the sticks is the key factor for an offense in the game of football. The more you're able to move the sticks, the closer you get to the goal line, the more touchdowns and points you can score.

Whether it's a touchdown or field goal, you have to put points on the board. And obviously I'm a quarterback, so I want to put up seven [points] every single time we’re on the field.

But we also have to acknowledge, as much film as we watch as an offense, the defense watches film too. Offensive coordinators call plays and so do defensive coordinators. Sometimes, the bad guys win (laughs).

When the defense is winning versus the concepts you’re running, the ability to make somebody miss in the backfield and extend the play and create a scramble drill, that can be a big plus for the offense. And if the defense is still doing a good job, being able to take everything downfield, being able to make people miss and move the sticks with your legs, I think that that's a very big trait of mine.

I'm someone who likes to go out there and play with my guys, be able to give the ball to my playmakers in space and allow them to make plays, but the defense is going to make plays, too, especially at the next level. Everybody on that field is being paid to make plays. So it's just about being smart with the decisions you make.

JM: That’s a fantastic answer. I imagine you’ve met with a bunch of NFL teams throughout this process. Your approach, character, and leadership must be going over well in those meetings.

Jalon Daniels: It’s honestly been nothing short of amazing. I was at the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine where I met with a bunch of teams. We got our Pro Day back at Kansas this year. In recent years, it was one giant Big 12 Pro Day. We had our own day at Kansas.

We had a lot of scouts at pro day. It was great. Being able to go through these Zoom meetings, you're able to talk ball, you're able to speak about your offense and they're able to tell you more about theirs. They're trying to get to know you. You're getting the chance to be able to get to know them.

And for me, I'm someone who loves to learn more about the game. So when I'm having these Zoom meetings, it's not just about them asking me about me and what I like to do. No, I'm asking them about little technique stuff, little stuff as far as their protections, how they do stuff formationally, how they are able to do stuff schematically, why they believe how they go about certain things.

I’m picking everybody's brain apart rather than just treating it as a regular Zoom meeting where they're trying to interview me. At the end of the day, I think you should take something out of every Zoom meeting. That’s what I’m trying to do. And the more you're able to develop from these conversations, the better it's going to prepare you for your situation when your number gets called.

JM: There’s lots of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. That’s a fantastic answer. We've appreciated your time today. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Jalon Daniels?

Jalon Daniels: I got the chance to get 45 career starts under my belt. I went to the University of Kansas. I’m the last of a dying breed. Being able to stay at one school, not only for four years, but played there six total seasons.

I started off as a true freshman at Kansas, and I got the chance to be around a bunch of great coaches and great players and a great community who have helped build and change the trajectory of the University of Kansas Jayhawk football program.

And I'm just a gritty grinder, man. I'm someone who wants to go out there and help the team win games. No matter what I'm doing, I want to help on a day-to-day basis, come inside the building, and be able to gain the trust of every single teammate, every single coach.

I’m going to let them know that at the end of the day, we're trying to win games and I want to do everything that I can to help us strive for our goals.