Saints meet with athletic Kansas QB Jalon Daniels for private workout

TL;DR

The New Orleans Saints held a private workout with Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, a versatile prospect who excelled in speed drills. Daniels had a productive 2025 season, throwing for 2,531 yards and rushing for 404 yards.

Key points

New Orleans Saints held a private workout with Jalon Daniels
Daniels had a productive 2025 season with 2,531 passing yards
He also rushed for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns
Saints signed Zach Wilson and are looking for a viable backup
Daniels tested well in speed drills at the combine

New Orleans SaintsKansas JayhawksJalon DanielsTyler Shough

Last offseason, around this time, the New Orleans Saints found their future at quarterback, selecting Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Spencer Rattler being benched near the halfway point in the season, Shough took the reins of the offense and didn't look back, but now, the Saints continue to invest in the position, signing Zach Wilson. If Rattler wants to leave for another opportunity at a starting role, having a viable backup is crucial.

New Orleans knows this, and on top of signing Wilson, has also met with Kansas quarterback prospect Jalon Daniels, specifically for a private workout.

Daniels is a relatively productive collegiate quarterback who ended up testing out really well at the combine in his speed drills, making him an intriguing, versatile piece. After a brutal 2024 season, he stepped up in 2025, posting 198 completions on a 62.1% completion rate, for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He also has a little bit of rushing upside, putting up 117 attempts for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Daniels fills a similar archetype to Shough when it comes to having a backup, as a righty pocket first passer who also has some wheels to make plays in space when necessary. With a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and 1.63-second 10-yard split, that upside may be higher than anticipated, and could lead to the Saints finding a spot for him in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Kansas QB Jalon Daniels works out privately for Saints

Q&A

What are Jalon Daniels' stats from the 2025 college football season?

In the 2025 season, Jalon Daniels completed 198 passes with a 62.1% completion rate, totaling 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

Why did the New Orleans Saints meet with Jalon Daniels?

The Saints met with Jalon Daniels to evaluate him as a potential backup quarterback, especially after signing Zach Wilson and considering Spencer Rattler's uncertain future.

How does Jalon Daniels compare to Tyler Shough?

Jalon Daniels shares a similar playing style with Tyler Shough, being a right-handed pocket passer with the ability to make plays on the run, which makes him an intriguing backup option.