One of the New York Jets’ three trades throughout the 2026 NFL draft was to secure Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik in the fourth round.
The move to trade up for Klubnik surprised some, as he was expected to be available when the Jets came back on the clock at No. 128. Additionally, the team traded away their two additional fourth-round picks to make the deal happen.
Speaking to reporters following the draft, Jets general manager Darren Mougey shared why New York landed on Klubnik.
“I felt really good about Cade,” he said. “We had good grades on Cade going into this year. He was playing hurt much of the year… had a great combine interview, which prompted us to get down to Clemson to spend more time with him. It was great exposure being on campus with him, talking ball. Felt really good about Cade, a young player who has a lot of experience.”
If Klubnik declared for last year’s draft, he could have been one of the top quarterbacks selected. While leading Clemson to a 10-4 record, Klubnik completed 63.4% of his passes for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also added 558 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on the ground across 64 carries.
In 2025, though, everything came crashing down for both the Tigers and Klubnik. Clemson went 7-6, which was their worst record since 2010, while Klubnik’s numbers dropped off significantly, throwing for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions with just four rushing touchdowns.
There were a multitude of factors, though, that contributed to Klubnik and Clemson’s decline last year. Most notably, the supporting cast was far weaker.
Ultimately, Mougey and the Jets saw enough talent and upside in the 22-year-old to make him worth trading up for. If he can develop into a long-term, sustainable QB2 for Gang Green, that would be a massive win for the organization, given his draft position.
