Since 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs fans may not have even cared who was in their QB room. Under Patrick Mahomes, who missed only two of 126 games played due to an injury, the team found a unique stability – until he tore his ACL and LCL late last season. The reality was hard to ignore: the Magic Man is not immune to serious ailments. As the team missed a playoff berth in over a decade, the urgency in Andy Reid’s camp became real.

They need a rebound season, and their two core players – TE Travis Kelce and DT Chris Jones – might as well be playing their final seasons. With that, Reid has already secured former New York Jets starter Justin Fields. While they are now looking good until Mahomes returns, Reid has clearly learned his lesson and is eyeing another QB for reasons that OC Eric Bieniemy will like.

A source told The Star that the Kansas City Chiefs have interest in former Kansas Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels. After the Chiefs’ local Pro Day workout, he met with multiple members of the coaching staff and front office for several hours.

Reid is clearly looking at someone he can develop with Bieniemy. In 2022, Daniels was the face of the program after leading them to their first bowl since 2008. He also did a fantastic job protecting the ball, cutting down on interceptions after leading the conference with 12 interceptions in 2024, and improving his completion percentage. While he is not expected to be a first- or second-round pick, he shows some characteristics that Bieniemy appreciates.

For starters, his improvement means that he holds himself accountable and is looking to learn. Let’s not forget Bieniemy is the same OC who helped Kelce transform into the legend that we know today. Then there’s discipline and the hunger to win.

He spent six years with the Kansas Jayhawks; however, his stint was riddled with injuries. Despite the setbacks, Daniels started every game and threw for more than 2,000 yards in both of the last two seasons with the team. In 2025, he had his best season, throwing for 2,531 yards and 22 touchdowns. But where does this projection place him in a Chiefs QB room, which is already overflowing?

Reid brought in Fields, but it is obvious that he is more of a band-aid than a proper fix. The team also signed former Saints QB Jake Haener, but he is more of an insurance policy. While Mahomes would return, Reid is now planning for the future with a developmental project under the red and gold banner, precisely like the Kansas City prospect. But would that put too many eggs in the basket?

If Daniels makes the team, here’s how the Chiefs’ QB room would look:

According to the scouting reports, Daniels won’t be a first-round pick. Most projections put him as a fifth- or seventh-round pick. But if he truly wants to succeed, the number won’t mean anything. Kelce, a third-rounder who would certainly be one of the most vocal voices for Daniels, is the living proof of it.

Moreover, over the offseason, he has impressed enough scouts that they believe his draft stock can rise. That said, many teams are keeping an eye on this rising prospect.

This AFC team is also interested in Jalon Daniels

The Chiefs aren’t the only AFC team looking to snag the Jayhawk star. Another team that keeps coming up is the New England Patriots. The Patriots had already hosted Daniels for a top-30 visit in Foxborough. 

According to the reports, the Patriots were on the hunt for quarterback prospects even before the NFL Draft. They also met Georgia Tech’s ACC Player of the Year, Haynes King, at the Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine. Still, Daniels was one of the targets on the list.

Following the release of Joshua Dobbs in March 2026, the Patriots’ depth chart behind Drake Maye is remarkably thin, currently featuring only Tommy DeVito. This creates a clear roster vacancy that New England is eager to fill with a high-ceiling prospect. This is where Daniels fits in, offering Vrabel a promising young talent to groom beside Maye for the long term.

Daniels finished his college career with 9,282 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions while playing a significant role in the Jayhawks’ success.

While the Patriots can offer Daniels a direct QB2 spot, the opportunity with the Chiefs is even more tempting. He can stay in Kansas, just 40 minutes from where he played his college ball, and develop under the duo of Reid and Mahomes. Personally and professionally, that makes more sense. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, things are about to get intense for both Daniels and the Chiefs. The call now lies in the hands of Coach Reid and GM Brett Veach.