One of the top positional battles to monitor throughout New York Jets training camp is the QB2 competition.

Last we heard from head coach Aaron Glenn, veteran signal-caller Bailey Zappe is currently slotted in as the team’s primary backup QB while rookie Cade Klubnik remains very much in the race.

While Zappe, 27, has more experience, entering his fifth NFL season and owning a 4-5 record in his nine starts, there is certainly a chance that Klubnik can run away with the role.

Why Klubnik could already have a leg up over Zappe

When cutdown day arrives, versatility is everything.

Every year around cutdown day, each NFL fanbase gets extremely passionate about several players, whom I like to call “training camp darlings.”

Typically, regardless of which training camp darlings each team retains on the 53, most of them don’t make much of a difference in the regular season.

Given that, having guys who can do multiple things is highly valuable as teams look to make every roster spot count.

This does not particularly apply to the Jets’ QB2 decision, but their handling of the position will affect their overall roster optimization.

Klubnik is a lock to make the Jets’ roster—that much is clear. After being taken in the fourth round, he will be on the team whether or not he wins the QB2 job. The same can’t be said about Zappe.

While Zappe is capable of being a decent No. 2, the Jets don’t have the same commitment to him as they do to Klubnik. Zappe signed with the squad on a futures deal in January, meaning he can easily be cut at any point without a noticeable financial burden.

The Jets’ best-case scenario is for Klubnik to outplay Zappe and naturally earn the primary backup role, as it would open up an extra roster spot. In that case, it wouldn’t make sense to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

If the Jets want to keep Zappe around, they could do so by giving him a practice squad spot.

The bottom line is that Klubnik enters camp with an edge over Zappe. The Jets have invested a draft pick in Klubnik while Zappe does not have close to that level of commitment from the organization.

As Glenn noted, the team is expected to give the rookie every opportunity to win the QB2 role. If the gap between the two quarterbacks is relatively small and Klubnik proves he can hold his own against preseason competition, the Jets have every reason to choose Klubnik as Gang Green’s No. 2 option behind Geno Smith.