Despite being 2-7, the New York Jets have actually enjoyed quality quarterback play for the first time in a while with Geno Smith at the helm.
That said, despite the record and many considering the Jets’ season “over,” folks are starting to clamor for fourth-round rookie signal caller Cade Klubnik to get his chance in action.
Should the Jets really “open the Klub,” though?
Klubnik’s time to shine?
Look, I get it. The Jets are 2-7, and the hopes of even being competitive this season are out the window. At this point, we’ve reached the stage where fans are already looking ahead.
Part of looking ahead is realizing that a rookie QB once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall talent is sitting on your bench. Of course, Jets fans, who haven’t seen a long-term QB in ages, will naturally be curious about what he can bring to the table.
For starters, though, Smith has been very good this season. If anything, he is the reason the Jets’ record isn’t uglier, and the reason why they have been competitive in most of their losses this season.
Among starting quarterbacks, he ranks fifth in completion rate (67.5%), ninth in yards per attempt (7.7), and fifth in Pro Football Focus’ passing grade (82.4). Those aren’t numbers to scoff at whatsoever.
Think about how many times over the last decade that New York’s quarterbacks have struggled to even do the simple things correctly. Smith is bringing a welcome change. His strong play is getting lost in the sauce because of the Jets’ record.
The biggest issue with starting Klubnik is the implications it would have on the rest of the offense. The Jets’ skill-position players have flashed immense promise this season, and it’s not fair to abandon them because the team wants to look at a fourth-round quarterback.
If the offense sputters, which is likely if Klubnik takes the reins, everyone loses valuable opportunities to develop, and the team will only further infuriate its playmakers, who have dealt with stagnation and turmoil at quarterback for years, like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
Why would the Jets be willing to sacrifice that? Right now, the development of their young offensive players is one of the most important storylines to monitor over the season’s final eight games.
There’s also a locker-room element. Imagine you are Smith, or one of the young players within the Jets’ offense. You’ve worked all season as a pass-catcher and finally have a QB who can consistently distribute the ball. Or, for Smith, he is delivering a significant bounce-back season after his rough play a year ago.
Then, with eight games left, the team benches that quarterback because they are intrigued by a fourth-round rookie. What kind of message does that send?
I understand this is most likely Aaron Glenn’s last year as the team’s head coach, but the most dangerous thing that can happen to a head coach at any point, let alone with a full eight games left, is to lose the locker room and have the team quit. On Sunday against Kansas City, there were some signs of a lack of defensive effort in the second half, but could you imagine the level we might see if Glenn fully lost the players?
There’s another component in the sheer Smith-to-Klubnik change. Let’s say the Jets do bench the veteran and give the Clemson product the final eight games of the season. What exactly would he need to show to meaningfully alter the quarterback plans?
The Jets are expected to select a franchise QB with one of their three first-round picks in April’s draft. Will they pass on that because Klubnik looked decent over an eight-game stretch? That would be completely ridiculous and highlight a larger organizational problem.
Again, we’re talking about a fourth-round rookie here, not some highly touted first-round pick; it’s not like the Las Vegas Raiders’ situation right now with Kirk Cousins and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Those are completely different circumstances.
Klubnik didn’t even flash anything particularly promising in the preseason against backup-level NFL players. Now you want to give him eight games against NFL competition and deal with all of the on- and off-field risks that come with that?
The best-case scenario for Klubnik is probably that he is the Jets’ No. 2 QB next season. That’s not even a lock, though; he could easily be No. 3 behind a rookie and potentially Smith again or another veteran.
It’s just not worth it at this point. The Jets’ bye week is Week 13, and they play five games after that. Maybe if the team’s offense takes a massive, unexpected tumble leading into the bye, the Jets consider it then and potentially turn to him for the final three or so games of the year, but even that is questionable.
Turning to the rookie doesn’t provide many short or long-term benefits for the Jets at this time. We will see what the Jets ultimately do, but fans must understand the risks of putting Klubnik out there.
