Ever since Cade Klubnik hit the practice field after being selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft, he has emerged as a fan favorite for the New York Jets.
It isn’t for no reason, though. While we’re talking about rookie minicamp and OTAs, where stats are entirely meaningless, he has shown himself to be a leader early on.
Veteran quarterback Geno Smith has taken notice. The Jets’ veteran starter lauded Klubnik’s preparation and thinks it is the reason he will succeed in the NFL.
“I feel like he’s the guy who’s always prepared,” said Smith. “He’s been preparing as if he’s going to be the starter; I’ve seen that from him. I think he’s got a bright future.”
While Bailey Zappe is currently penciled in as the Jets’ QB2, as Aaron Glenn announced on Thursday, there is certainly a chance that Klubnik could earn that role with a strong summer.
Smith and the Jets’ coaching staff seem quite optimistic about Klubnik and his future. It’s precisely the reason the organization felt the need to trade up for him on Day 3.
Sure, he most likely won’t be the Jets’ long-term solution at QB. However, there is no reason he can’t develop into New York’s sustainable QB2.
Similar to Smith trying to return to his form with the Seattle Seahawks, the Jets are trying to get Klubnik back to the level of play he showed in the 2024 season at Clemson, which generated No. 1 overall pick buzz before he fell off a cliff in 2025. The decline caused him to drop to the third day of the draft.
While the Jets’ recent track record of developing Day 3 quarterbacks is lackluster (a la James Morgan and Jordan Travis), the early returns suggest that Klubnik may break that trend.
