Why the Saints Worked Out Jalon Daniels: A Deep Dive into the QB Prospect, His Skills, and How New Orleans Might Use Him

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights
2. Introduction
3. College Resume and Career Context
4. Measurables and Combine Profile
5. What Daniels Does Well: Playmaking Traits and Upside
6. Where Daniels Needs Work: Accuracy, Mechanics and Processing
7. Why the Saints’ Interest Makes Strategic Sense
8. Draft Projection: Where Daniels Likely Falls and Why
9. What Daniels Needs to Do to Succeed in the NFL
10. On-Field Role Scenarios for the Saints
11. What Daniels’ Meetings with Other Teams Suggest
12. Historical Precedents: How Similar Prospects Developed
13. Risk-Reward Analysis for New Orleans
14. Organizational Steps to Maximize Success
15. Long-Term Projection: What Realistic Success Looks Like
16. The Broader QB Market and How Daniels Fits
17. Practical Scenarios: How a Saints Season Might Play Out with Daniels on the Roster
18. Final Assessment
19. FAQ

Key Highlights

• The New Orleans Saints conducted a private workout with Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has also met with multiple NFL teams ahead of the 2026 draft. Daniels offers mobility and playmaking but shows inconsistent accuracy and pocket processing.
• Daniels’ six-season college career produced 9,252 passing yards, 67 passing touchdowns, 1,451 rushing yards and 23 rushing scores; his 2025 PFF grade and combine measurables highlight both upside and clear developmental needs.
• New Orleans could view Daniels as a developmental Day-3 target: a mobile backup to Tyler Shough with upside if Spencer Rattler is moved in an offseason trade, but the team must plan for targeted coaching interventions to refine mechanics and decision-making.

Introduction

A private workout with the New Orleans Saints adds a new chapter to Jalon Daniels’ pre-draft story. The Kansas quarterback — a six-year college veteran who mixed electric playmaking with intermittently shaky pocket play — has drawn sustained interest from multiple NFL franchises. Meetings with the Patriots, Buccaneers, Bills, Chargers and Chiefs, plus the Combine metrics and season-by-season tape, create a portrait of a player with clear strengths and measurable risks.

That profile matters to the Saints because their quarterback room and offseason roster moves have left them evaluating several short- and long-term scenarios. New Orleans has shown a pattern of targeting quarterbacks across consecutive drafts, and adding a developmental arm who can learn on the scout team and potentially back up a starter is a plausible path forward. What follows is a thorough look at Daniels’ college production, physical traits, technical profile, and the realistic ways the Saints — and similar teams — might integrate him into an NFL operation.

College Resume and Career Context

Jalon Daniels’ Kansas tenure extended to six seasons, a stretch shaped by the COVID eligibility extension and a medical redshirt after injuries. Over that period Daniels completed 734 of 1,193 passes (61.5 percent) for 9,252 yards and 67 touchdowns against 31 interceptions. On the ground he accounted for 1,451 yards on 421 attempts and 23 rushing touchdowns.

A few details clarify how those numbers should be evaluated:

• Longevity and experience: Six seasons of game reps furnish an unusually large sample of decision-making under various game scripts, including comeback situations and heavy-pressure Pac-12/Big 12-style environments. Extended playing time also means a high number of both positive and negative plays, which gives scouts a reliable base to judge tendencies.
• Year-to-year variation: Daniels produced his best passing season in 2025, completing 198 of 319 passes for 2,531 yards and 22 touchdowns with seven interceptions. That statistical spike suggests development in the passing game, but it arrived after several seasons marked by injuries and inconsistency.
• Dual-threat contributions: More than 1,400 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns make him a genuine rushing threat. That element changes how defenses attack him, and it changes the types of plays an offense can design around him.

The 2025 Pro Football Focus overall grade of 77.1 placed Daniels at 101st among 302 qualifying quarterbacks; his 72.0 passing grade ranked 118th. Those numbers, combined with 18 big-time throws and 15 turnover-worthy plays, underline the polarity in his tape: flashes of elite playmaking interrupted by poor decisions or technical lapses.

Measurables and Combine Profile

At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Daniels measured 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, with 30 3/8-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch hands. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash with a 1.63-second 10-yard split.

How those figures translate:

• Height and length: At 6'1", Daniels sits below the prototypical NFL quarterback height (many franchises prefer 6'3" or taller). Arm length near 30 inches and hands just under 10 inches are adequate but not elite. Shorter stature increases the premium on clean pocket mechanics and release quickness because visibility over the line and the ability to throw around rushers can be slightly compromised.
• Weight and sturdiness: At 219 pounds he projects as solidly built for his height, which helps as a designed runner or when absorbing contact on scrambles.
• Speed and burst: A 4.65 40-yard dash and a 1.63 10-yard split are excellent numbers for a quarterback and validate the rushing production on statistical reports. That athleticism enhances his value in zone-read, RPO and designed scramble packages.

Combine numbers are context, not verdict. For Daniels, these measurables underline why teams continue to show interest: his mobility is a real differentiator. They also remind evaluators the pathway to a successful pro career hinges on cleaning mechanics and decision-making to compensate for height and to unlock passing consistency.

What Daniels Does Well: Playmaking Traits and Upside

Daniels’ tape contains sustained examples of traits NFL teams value when they look for developmental quarterbacks. Those positive traits explain the meetings he’s received across the league.

• Play extension and scramble creation: Mobility allows Daniels to turn broken plays into positive yardage. He consistently improvised in scramble situations, keeping drives alive and converting third-and-long scenarios with his legs or designed plays.
• Downfield arm strength: On several film clips he shows the ability to drive throws vertically. That capability enables shot plays and keeps defenses honest, which in turn opens running lanes and intermediate concepts.
• Pocket presence on certain plays: While not consistently steady, there are notable stretches where Daniels demonstrates quick, decisive movement within the pocket — sliding left or right, stepping up to expand throwing lanes, and quickly resetting his base.
• Leadership and experience: A six-year college starter brings maturity and an abundance of in-game repetitions. That background helps in huddle management, pre-snap recognition and understanding how to handle a team’s rhythm over a season.
• Short-area quickness and timing on designed runs: His rushing totals reflect more than raw speed; his burst on short-yardage runs and ability to hit gaps quickly is a trait coaches can design around.

Those strengths are useful for teams that run RPO-heavy or quarterback-friendly designs and for organizations that see value in a backup who can create plays off schedule. For the Saints, who have an established run and pass balance and often tailor play calls to generate quarterback mobility, Daniels presents tangible on-field utility.

Where Daniels Needs Work: Accuracy, Mechanics and Processing

The flip side of Daniels’ tape explains why several teams still view him as a mid-to-late round developmental project rather than a Day 1 starter.

• Accuracy and ball placement: He struggled at times to consistently locate throws in tight windows, particularly on intermediate routes and timing throws. This deficiency manifests as missed throws that force receivers to make difficult adjustments or create interception opportunities.
• Timing and anticipation: At the NFL level timing windows are narrower and route combinations are subtler. Daniels sometimes holds the ball too long or misreads the depth of a route, which disrupts timing between quarterback and receiver.
• Pocket mechanics and footwork variability: When pressured, Daniels often resorts to scrambling rather than resetting his feet and delivering a catchable ball within structure. His footwork on some drops lacks the rhythmic, automatic cadence that improves accuracy on the move.
• Decision-making under duress: The 15 turnover-worthy plays flagged by PFF show a correlation between pressure and poor choices. In the NFL, where pre-snap disguise and pass-rush speed are greater, reducing those plays is essential for playing meaningful snaps.
• Consistency in throwing motion: Mechanics break down intermittently, altering release point and reducing repeatability, which directly affects accuracy and timing.

Those weaknesses are fixable through targeted coaching, reps against NFL-caliber pass rushes in practice, and a deliberate developmental timeline. They are nonetheless substantive enough that teams will weigh the risk versus reward of investing a draft pick.

Why the Saints’ Interest Makes Strategic Sense

New Orleans’ private workout fits a pattern. The Saints have been proactive in identifying quarterbacks with upside who can be stocked in the roster or practice squad, especially when the franchise considers more than one offseason scenario for its current signal-callers.

Several organizational dynamics make Daniels an understandable target:

• Backup insurance for Tyler Shough: If the Saints enter 2026 with Shough as the projected starter, they still need a competent backup who can step in without resulting in a steep drop-off. Daniels’ mobility and experience satisfy that requirement more immediately than an undrafted or purely developmental project.
• Tradeable pieces and roster flexibility: The source indicates the Saints may move on from Spencer Rattler via trade. If that happens, the team would need a low-cost, high-upside alternative — a Day-3 pick who can occupy roster spots and develop.
• Coaching emphasis on quarterback development: New Orleans’ staff earns credit for quarterback-specific coaching and tailoring a game plan around the strengths of the passer. A quarterback with Daniels’ athletic traits benefits from a coaching staff willing to scheme to his strengths while cleaning technical flaws.
• Pattern of acquiring quarterbacks: The Saints have signaled they will continue to invest draft capital and roster spots at the position. Three consecutive years of selecting signal-callers suggests organizational willingness to maintain competition at the position rather than settle on a single option.

Daniels’ profile matches the brief of a player who can be integrated immediately as a change-of-pace option, practice squad developmental asset, or emergency starter. For the Saints, that versatility is valuable.

Draft Projection: Where Daniels Likely Falls and Why

Multiple meetings and Combine exposure typically produce a draft range and positional grade. Daniels’ combination of physical traits and tape suggests he will rise to Day 3 conversation — late rounds — unless a team falls in love with his upside and moves earlier.

Factors keeping Daniels in Day-3 territory:

• Measurables below prototypical starting QB standards in height and arm length.
• Inconsistency in accuracy and decision-making that require noticeable coaching before he can be trusted with a full-time starting role.
• A large body of film showing both big plays and turnover-worthy plays, which increases the scouting uncertainty relative to prospects with cleaner, more repeatable mechanics.

Factors that could push him higher:

• Strong private workouts and scheme interviews. Teams sometimes prioritize traits like mobility and arm strength when they believe coaching can fix accuracy issues.
• A clear and coherent developmental plan. Franchises with proven track records of developing quarterbacks can elevate prospects whose tools align with their systems.

A reasonable projection sees Daniels selected on Day 3 — rounds 5–7 — or signed as a priority undrafted free agent if draft noise tightens. The Saints’ private workout indicates they view him as worthy of investment at one of these levels.

What Daniels Needs to Do to Succeed in the NFL

A carefully curated development plan increases the odds of Daniels becoming an effective NFL quarterback. The following components form a realistic, evidence-based approach teams and player coaches should pursue.

1. Refine fundamental footwork and throwing mechanics
   • Repetition of three- and five-step drops with metronome-paced footwork drills.
   • Emphasis on lower-body timing: transferring weight to the front foot to stabilize the core and create repeatable release points.
   • Targeted drills to minimize cross-body throws and reduce release variance under pressure.
2. Shorten and simplify decision-making
   • Practice high-repetition, short-window reads in 7-on-7 and half-field drills.
   • Simulated pressure sessions focusing on horizontal movement inside the pocket rather than immediate scrambling.
   • Reaction drills that force decisive throws on RPO and quick-game concepts.
3. Improve accuracy through visual and cognitive drills
   • Progressive aiming-point work, starting with large targets and moving to narrow windows.
   • Film study that pairs route-camera angles with specific landmarks on the field to refine anticipation.
   • Hand-eye coordination drills that translate to release-point precision.
4. Built-in game-plan role evolution
   • Week 1–8: scout-team and limited package snaps, RPOs and designed runs.
   • Week 9–16: expanded two-minute and red-zone packages if accuracy and decision metrics improve.
   • Offseason Year 2: targeted repeats with first-team during OTAs and preseason, with incremental increases in dropback responsibilities.
5. Strength and conditioning tailored to durability
   • Maintain weight and lower-body strength to absorb hits; develop preventative measures for prior injury areas.
   • Flexibility work to retain arm health and reduce mechanical breakdown from fatigue.
6. Mental processing and stage management
   • Lightning-quick mental checklists for pre-snap reads and progression hierarchy.
   • Stress inoculation training to reduce decision paralysis under pressure.

These steps are not sequential; they are iterative and require buy-in from player, positional coaches, and coordination with offensive schematics. For the Saints, integrating Daniels into a scheme that leverages his mobility while minimizing early-career exposure to complex dropback-only concepts will reduce risk.

On-Field Role Scenarios for the Saints

If New Orleans adds Daniels, the team can deploy him in multiple structured ways that match his strengths and protect his weaknesses.

1. Short-term emergency backup with specific package responsibilities
   • Daniels is asked to execute rollouts, RPOs, quarterback draws and play-action on third-and-medium. These plays minimize full-time read complexity and emphasize his ability to extend plays.
2. Developmental backup with prescheduled reps on scout team
   • Weekly practice reps against first-team defenses improve processing under pressure; the player learns the playbook and timing without full exposure to game-level expectations.
3. Situational “change of pace” starter in controlled scripts
   • If injuries open opportunities, he could operate simplified first-half scripts intended to control tempo and take advantage of mobility in crafted scenarios.
4. Trade leverage or practice-squad depth
   • Should the team decide Rattler is expendable, Daniels fills the roster space while giving the Saints flexibility to trade up or adjust plans as the season develops.

Each role requires a different coaching and mental approach. A clearly communicated track for playing time helps maintain performance standards and reduces the friction of role ambiguity.

What Daniels’ Meetings with Other Teams Suggest

Daniels’ meetings with the Patriots, Buccaneers, Bills, Chargers and Chiefs — along with his Combine participation — offer multiple signals about how the NFL views him.

• Widespread interest across systems: Teams with differing offensive philosophies want to see if Daniels’ traits fit their schemes. This suggests consensus recognition of his athletic upside.
• Private workouts matter: A private workout with the Saints implies they wanted a deeper look at his mechanics, leadership and learning capacity beyond what his tape showed.
• Multiple meetings increase draft leverage: When teams across both conferences meet a prospect, it can encourage upward movement late in the draft if a particular staff believes their coaching model can unlock accuracy and processing.

From the player’s perspective, these meetings give his representation talking points and options. For teams, they’re a way to verify projections from tape in person — how a player takes coaching, his communication skills and his short-term physical health.

Historical Precedents: How Similar Prospects Developed

Examining comparable development arcs clarifies realistic expectations. Several NFL quarterbacks with non-linear college trajectories illustrate potential paths.

• Backup-to-starter breakthroughs: Multiple contemporary starting quarterbacks entered the league as backups or mid-round picks and became starters after targeted coaching and situational exposure. Their success often hinged on stomach-for-rep development and organizational patience.
• Mobility-first transition: Quarterbacks who relied on legs in college learned to translate their athleticism into pro-level passing success by refining footwork and learning to use their body as a timing mechanism rather than a primary play-extender.
• Case studies in patience and scheme fit: When a coaching staff adapts and builds a role that highlights strengths — then systematically addresses weaknesses — prospects with inconsistent college passing can become starters in two to three seasons.

These precedents highlight that a combination of coaching patience, willingness to adapt the game plan, and the player’s readiness to refine technical skills determines ultimate outcomes. Daniels’ path would likely follow this template if the Saints commit to a multi-year investment.

Risk-Reward Analysis for New Orleans

Every draft pick and roster move is a balancing act. For the Saints, Daniels represents a moderate-risk, moderate-reward option with upside contingent on development.

Rewards

• Immediate athleticism and playmaking that can be incorporated into offense packages.
• Low-cost depth behind an incumbent starter.
• Potential long-term upside if accuracy and pocket mechanics improve.

Risks

• Persistent accuracy issues could compromise game management if forced into prolonged starting duty.
• Height and release point could exacerbate problems against elite NFL pass rushes and complex coverage schemes.
• Resource allocation: A mid-round investment in a quarterback comes with opportunity cost — that pick cannot be used for other roster needs.

Weighing these factors, Daniels fits the profile of a traditional Day-3 developmental quarterback the Saints might select when they prefer internal growth over signing a veteran or trading up for a higher-rated passer.

Organizational Steps to Maximize Success

If the Saints — or any team — choose to draft Daniels, organizational alignment improves the odds of a positive outcome.

1. Clear development timeline established at signing
   • Expectations for Year 1 versus Year 2 need delineation to reduce ambiguous roles and developmental pressure.
2. Dedicated quarterback coach or mentor
   • Assigning a specialized coach who focuses on mechanics and pocket footwork will speed growth. Pairing Daniels with a veteran mentor in the QB room also helps.
3. Tailored offensive packages that gradually expand
   • Begin with high-percentage plays that require rapid decisions, then incrementally broaden responsibilities as performance metrics improve.
4. Use of analytics to measure incremental improvement
   • Track target accuracy, release time, decision time, and turnover rates to measure coaching impact objectively.
5. Regular turf-to-game translation drills
   • Replicate game speed and blitz looks in practice with simulated noise and crowd to reduce stage-related breakdowns.

These practical steps create an environment where a prospect with Daniels’ profile can address weaknesses while contributing on game days in measured ways.

Long-Term Projection: What Realistic Success Looks Like

Defining success for Daniels requires a tempered view. Few developmental quarterbacks transcend their draft slot quickly; most progress over multiple seasons.

Short-term (Year 1)

• Primary role: backup and situational change-of-pace quarterback.
• Playtime: limited series, emergency starts, and scripted packages.
• Goals: reduce turnover-worthy plays, improve release quickness, and build familiarity with pro reads.

Medium-term (Years 2–3)

• Possibility for spot starts: increased responsibilities if accuracy and pocket mechanics improve.
• Bench-to-starter pathways: open if the starter falters or through injury; readiness depends on progress in the offseason and early-season reps.

Long-term (Years 4+)

• Realistic upside: reliable multi-year backup who can start as needed or a full-time starter if development is exceptional and the roster environment aligns.
• Lower probability outcome: immediate and sustained starting-caliber passer with above-average accuracy — possible but unlikely without significant technical improvements.

This framework sets expectations that balance the tangible upside of his mobility and the realistic need for developmental coaching to manage accuracy and mental processing.

The Broader QB Market and How Daniels Fits

The modern NFL places premium value on quarterbacks who can create with their legs while maintaining consistent passing fundamentals. Daniels embodies that hybrid type but with a larger margin for error than many higher-rated prospects.

His presence in the draft class speaks to a common trend: teams balance raw traits against immediate readiness. For franchises that prefer to cultivate quarterbacks internally and tailor offense around a passer’s strengths, Daniels is an appealing selection because his mobility and arm strength provide schematic levers from day one.

For selling points to general managers:

• Special packages and gadget plays expand playbook flexibility.
• A developmental prospect like Daniels costs less in cap and draft capital than an established starter, enabling roster construction that prioritizes other positions.

For buyers who prefer plug-and-play starters, Daniels’ profile is less appealing. Those teams will likely target QBs who display cleaner mechanics and top-tier processing at the college level.

Practical Scenarios: How a Saints Season Might Play Out with Daniels on the Roster

Two contrasting but plausible outlines demonstrate how New Orleans could use him.

Scenario A: Conservative Developmental Path

• Offseason: Daniels competes for a backup job, performs well in private workouts and earns practice reps behind the starter.
• Regular season: limited game snaps in designed packages, spot appearance if injuries occur.
• Outcome: By season’s end, Daniels demonstrates improvements in release and decision metrics, increasing his stock for Year 2.

Scenario B: Accelerated Exposure via Injury or Trade

• Offseason: Roster churn leads to Rattler trade; Daniels promoted to primary backup.
• In-season: starter struggles or goes down with injury. Daniels is thrust into starting reps mid-season and is forced to manage more complex defenses.
• Outcome: Results depend on readiness. Success hinges on the coaching staff’s ability to simplify the playbook and emphasize Daniels’ strengths. Failure could cement his role as a developmental backup.

Both scenarios show the need for clear coaching strategies and offer a template for organizational decisions about patience and role definition.

Final Assessment

Jalon Daniels is a compelling mid-round prospect because of his dual-threat floor and demonstrated playmaking. He is not a finished product. Persistent mechanical inconsistencies and decision-making under pressure limit his immediate starter projection. A team with an offensive staff willing to scheme effectively and invest in quarterback-specific coaching can unlock value.

For the Saints, Daniels checks several boxes: he offers situational utility, an immediate backup option with change-of-pace potential, and reasonable upside if the organization commits to a patient development program. That combination explains the private workout and broader league interest.

Drafting Daniels would be a calculated organizational bet: low-to-moderate investment with upside dependent on structured coaching and gradual exposure. For teams that prefer to build from within and place a premium on mobility, he is a fit. For teams that require an NFL-ready passer on Day 1, he remains a project.

FAQ

Q: Who is Jalon Daniels? A: Jalon Daniels is a Kansas quarterback who spent six seasons with the Jayhawks due to COVID-19 eligibility and a medical redshirt. He finished his college career with 9,252 passing yards, 67 passing touchdowns, 31 interceptions, 1,451 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.

Q: What makes Daniels an intriguing NFL prospect? A: Daniels combines above-average mobility and play-extension skills with the arm strength to push the ball vertically. Those traits create immediate schematic value, especially in systems that incorporate RPOs, rollouts, and quarterback run designs.

Q: What are Daniels’ primary weaknesses? A: His primary weaknesses are inconsistent accuracy, timing, pocket mechanics, and decision-making under pressure. These factors produced turnover-worthy plays and kept his PFF passing grade moderate.

Q: How did Daniels perform at the Combine? A: Daniels measured 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds at the Combine, with 30 3/8-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch hands. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and posted a 1.63-second 10-yard split, showcasing excellent athleticism for his position.

Q: Why did the Saints work him out? A: The Saints conducted a private workout to evaluate his fit as a potential backup or developmental roster addition. Given their recent quarterback activity and interest in multiple signal-callers, Daniels presents a potential low-cost option with upside in mobility and playmaking.

Q: Where is Daniels likely to be drafted? A: Daniels projects as a Day-3 pick (late rounds) or a priority undrafted free agent in many projections. Team-specific needs and private workout impressions could nudge him upward or keep him available later in the draft.

Q: Could Daniels start in the NFL? A: He could start under the right conditions — simplified playbook, coaching emphasis on his strengths and a patient development plan — but he would likely need at least one full offseason and regular-season reps to address accuracy and decision-making before being relied upon as a long-term starter.

Q: What would a realistic development plan look like? A: The plan should focus on footwork and throwing mechanics, short-window decision drills, pressure-simulation work, and a gradual expansion of in-game responsibilities. Year 1 would center on practice reps, targeted game packages, and measurable improvement in release and turnover metrics.

Q: How long before we know if the Saints made the right choice? A: Teams typically require two to three seasons to evaluate a developmental quarterback meaningfully. Observable improvements in turnover rate, timing, and pocket mechanics within 12–24 months would be promising indicators.

Q: What are the key metrics scouts will monitor? A: Scouts and coaches will monitor completion percentage on intermediate routes, turnover-worthy plays, average time to throw, pocket presence metrics (pressure-to-sack ratios), and accuracy on catchable targets. Incremental improvements in these metrics indicate effective coaching translation.

Q: Are there comparable NFL players who followed similar paths? A: Several successful quarterbacks began their pro careers as backups or lower-round picks and developed into starters with patient coaching and the right system. Those cases emphasize the importance of schematic fit, repetition, and structural progression in play-calling.

Q: What should Saints fans expect if he signs with the team? A: Expect limited, clearly-defined roles early: packages designed to use his mobility and occasional rollouts. Over time, if he shows measurable progress, expect expanded responsibilities and possibly emergency starts. Patience and a bespoke coaching plan will be essential to maximize his upside.

Q: Could Daniels’ height be a major problem in the NFL? A: Height is one factor among many. At 6'1", Daniels is shorter than many NFL starters, which increases the importance of release timing, pocket movement and anticipating targets. With refined mechanics and quicker decision-making, shorter quarterbacks can succeed; the developmental task is ensuring those compensations are in place.

Q: What should the Saints prioritize if they draft Daniels? A: Prioritize structured coaching on mechanics, targeted in-practice reps against first-team defenders, a simplified offensive script progressing in complexity, and a measurable analytics program to track improvement week-to-week.