Few in the NFL would argue the New York Jets desperately need a long-term upgrade at quarterback, but it's a long shot that Cade Klubnik will be that guy.
A fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Klubnik arrived at Clemson as a highly touted recruit with tons of upside, thanks to a versatile skill set and some promising physical tools. But he struggled to live up to the hype over his first two seasons with the Tigers, leading many to wonder if he would be able to put it all together and eventually develop into a successful starter at the pro level.
In 2024, Klubnik finally delivered the season everyone was waiting for, throwing for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns with only six interceptions, while adding another 463 yards and seven more scores on the ground.
Heading into the 2025 season, Klubnik could often be found near the top of early projections for the 2026 NFL Draft, based on the hopes that he would pick up where he left off and build on the success and improvement that was clearly visible in 2024. Instead, Klubnik regressed while dealing with multiple injuries throughout the season, causing his passing production to dip (just 16 touchdowns) and his rushing impact to nearly disappear altogether (94 yards on 83 carries for the season).
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A lack of consistency as a passer was the most concerning trend with Klubnik throughout the 2025 season, and it's likely a huge reason why he went from the first-round conversation to being a Day 3 pick.
The Jets brought back Geno Smith to raise the floor of the quarterback position heading into the 2026 season, and Klubnik gives them an intriguing project to develop behind him at the moment. But looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, the Jets could be in prime position to land one of the best passers in what looks to be one of the most talented quarterback classes in recent memory.
Most early mock drafts this time of year base the first-round pick order on the most current Super Bowl odds, and that method routinely has the Jets picking near the top of the board, if not landing the No. 1 overall pick. If that happens, there's no way they pass up the chance to land Oregon's Dante Moore or Texas' Arch Manning. Even if their original pick doesn't land high enough to target Moore or Manning (assuming they don't experience their own regressions this year), the Jets currently own a trio of first-round picks in next year's draft, thanks to previous trades with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys. If they're not picking high enough to land one of the top passers in the class, they could package those additional picks to move up into that range.
It's always possible that Klubnik surprises in training camp, and eventually pushes Smith enough to actually earn some regular-season snaps as a rookie. But it feels like a long shot, and Klubnik would have to impress quickly in a big way to keep the Jets from heading into the offseason with their sights set on a different signal-caller to be the future of the franchise.
