The Kansas City Chiefs are making the most of their Top 30 visits as they approach the NFL draft next week. However, one inclusion is both surprising and curious. Former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels appears to be drawing serious interest from the Chiefs.
If you’d asked me three years ago, before his career-altering injury in 2023, I’d have said Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels was a can’t-miss first-round selection whenever he turned pro.
However, injuries, poor coaching, and missed opportunities ended that thought, leaving him uncertain about his future. Still, he’s making his rounds to NFL teams, and the buzz is that he might be a coveted undrafted free agent.
The Chiefs already traded for Justin Fields this offseason, knowing it’s possible that Patrick Mahomes might not be ready to start the 2026 NFL opener. The Chiefs need a third quarterback, and Daniels, who would be a terrific fit in Andy Reid’s offense, could be a candidate to sign with Kansas City.
As a devoted Kansas fan, Daniels was supposed to be the program’s savior under Lance Leipold. However, it was Leipold who ruined his college career through poor coaching decisions and overspending in areas his roster needed.
Daniels was at fault as well, but there’s no doubt he has the talent to be an NFL starter. The question remains who will give him a chance. What Daniels needs more than anything is coaching. If anyone can harness his talent, it would be Andy Reid.
The Chiefs won’t draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft, but that doesn’t mean they won’t consider signing one for training camp. Chris Oladuken has been a staple on the Chiefs’ practice squad.
If Daniels joins the Chiefs for the rookie mini-camp, he’d instantly go to the top of that list. His arm, athleticism, and ability to improvise within an offense make him a valuable option for the Chiefs.
As we saw last season, the Chiefs used four quarterbacks in the regular season, and outside of Mahomes, the others were underwhelming to say the least at the NFL level before his injury.
This won’t be the first time the Chiefs could sign a Jayhawks quarterback. For those my age, David Jaynes had a cup of coffee with the Chiefs in the ’70s.
Daniels does have options, and according to sources, he’s become a key undrafted target for several NFL teams. If that’s the case, his price tag will rise, but General Manager Brett Veach is willing to pay steep prices for undrafted talent.
The good news is that the Chiefs have scouted Kansas extensively, and they are very familiar with his skill set and how it might fit.
He also shares similar traits with Fields, and if Kansas City is forced to reach down to its third-string quarterback again this season, Reid won’t have to alter the offense too much for Daniels.
As a Jayhawk fan, I’d love to see what coaching can do to increase his potential. It’s too early to determine whether this is a possibility, but for the Chiefs to bring him in as one of their thirty visits indicates they have a serious interest.
