Over the following few months, we’ll be breaking down the entire rookies added by the Jets throughout the draft and as undrafted free brokers. We proceed as we speak with quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The 22-year outdated Klubnik is listed at 6’2” and 207 kilos and was the one hundred and tenth total choose within the fourth spherical out of Clemson. Klubnik was a three-year starter for the Tigers throughout which era he gained 26 of 40 begins and handed for over 10,000 yards and 73 touchdowns.
Klubnik was a five-star highschool recruit and the highest quarterback prospect within the nation earlier than heading to Clemson with three highschool state championships to his title.
At Clemson, he was a backup throughout his freshman 12 months and had solely accomplished 11 passes in a reserve position heading into the ACC title recreation. Whereas he had come off the bench to offer a spark in a 27-21 win over Syracuse, he additionally threw a pick-six off the bench towards Notre Dame.
He lastly acquired an prolonged probability within the ACC title recreation when the starter was benched and accomplished 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and a landing to spark the win over North Carolina. He additionally rushed for a landing.
When the starter transferred out, Klubnik acquired an opportunity to make his first profession begin within the Tigers’ bowl recreation however he was sacked 4 instances and intercepted twice in a loss to Tennessee. He did present some sparks, although, as he ended up with 320 passing yards.
In 2023, Klubnik gained the beginning position and finally handed for two,844 yards and 19 touchdowns whereas additionally dashing for 4 scores. Nonetheless, he additionally had 9 interceptions and fumbled 13 instances.
2024 noticed Klubnik take his recreation to a different stage as he handed for 36 touchdowns, which was the third most within the nation. He ended up with a career-high 3,639 yards and solely six interceptions, whereas additionally setting profession marks with 463 dashing yards and 7 touchdowns. This was sufficient to earn him an all-ACC honorable point out.
With many analysts predicting that he may very well be a primary spherical choose with one other sturdy 12 months, Klubnik’s manufacturing fell in 2025, though there may be some suggestion that this was as a result of he was banged up. He got here up in need of 3,000 passing yards and rushed for lower than 100 as Clemson went 7-6, their worst file since 2010.
Heading into the draft, Klubnik was broadly thought to be a possible late spherical choose.
The Jets chosen Klubnik within the fourth spherical with the one hundred and tenth total choose, which was acquired after they packaged one other fourth spherical choose to maneuver up and choose him.
Let’s transfer onto some extra in-depth evaluation of what Klubnik brings to the desk, based mostly on in-depth analysis and movie research.
Klubnik lacks very best measurement however is a fairly good athlete who ran a 4.70 within the 40-yard sprint and posted a 33.5-inch vertical soar on the scouting mix.
Klubnik isn’t famend for his arm energy however posted excellent numbers on downfield throws in 2024. Whereas his numbers in 2025 and 2023 weren’t pretty much as good, they had been nonetheless stable – and his 2025 numbers might have been even higher if not for a handful of drops.
He will get air beneath his deep throws and places good contact on the ball when throwing deep.
When it comes to displaying zip to get the ball exterior or into a good window, Klubnik is enough though it’s one thing that he can wrestle with beneath strain.
Klubnik’s accuracy numbers weren’t that good in faculty, though it was fascinating to notice that – regardless of his struggles – he posted the very best completion share of his profession (65.6%) in his ultimate season. That was the one time he was over 65 p.c, although.
Final 12 months, the speed at which his receivers dropped passes was not insignificant, and constant along with his different two years as a starter. It was a lot greater than that of Fernando Mendoza, for instance. Nonetheless, it was decrease than the likes of Ty Simpson and Garrett Nussmeier, so that you in all probability can’t learn an excessive amount of into this being the explanation his accuracy numbers aren’t higher.
Typically talking, he has the flexibility to throw with timing and anticipation and to place the ball in spots the place his receiver can go to get it. At instances, he can convert tight window throws.
Nonetheless, he’ll miss straightforward alternatives when beneath heavy strain, and might have lapses even from a clear pocket.
As already famous, Klubnik can see his accuracy and the way a lot zip he will get on the ball affected by strain. He tends to over-rely on his higher physique slightly than getting into throws. He may panic at instances, and can take sacks when he shouldn’t and make ill-advised throws when he ought to simply eat the ball or throw it away.
He has the athleticism and talent to flee strain, however isn’t at all times pretty much as good when off-script or off-platform.
Encouragingly, his variety of fumbles every year has dropped, suggesting he’s taking higher care of the ball and maybe extra conscious of strain. He had 13 in 2023, 9 in 2024 and 4 final 12 months.
Klubnik has a fast, compact launch however, as already famous, he can get into bother when he tries to make performs with out getting into the throw.
When making throws on the transfer, Klubnik is usually off steadiness or fading away, however he’s efficient when he has time to reset his ft.
Klubnik clearly impressed the Jets along with his smarts throughout the pre-draft course of however there are regarding moments in his recreation movie.
Some scouts query his subject imaginative and prescient when his first possibility isn’t open and his capability to learn coverages usually.
One encouraging trait is that he hasn’t thrown a couple of interception in any recreation aside from in his first profession begin and one 2023 recreation. Meaning he ended his profession on a streak of 31 straight begins with one or fewer interceptions.
He has proven periodically that he can come off his first learn and go to a different possibility.
Klubnik has at all times been thought of a twin menace quarterback and has made performs along with his legs on each designed runs and scrambles all through his faculty profession.
It was solely actually in 2024 that he was actually productive on this space as he had virtually 500 yards and 7 scores. Nonetheless, in every of his different three seasons, he did have not less than one recreation the place he rushed for 50 yards and he had 10 extra touchdowns in complete.
Klubnik’s highest dashing complete in a recreation is 70 yards and he as soon as carried 20 instances in a recreation, though this was in his first season. He had runs of 55, 50 and 34 yards in 2024 however in any other case by no means had a 25-yard run in his different three seasons.
Maybe because of being banged up, he had a career-low in dashing yards in 2025.
Klubnik’s mobility can be an asset when escaping strain and he may transfer round in and across the pocket to purchase time.
Klubnik didn’t play any particular groups snaps in faculty. Nonetheless, he was referred to as upon to pooch punt a few instances. One was enough however the different was a 19-yard shank.
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich seemed genuinely psyched to land Klubnik throughout the draft so that you may be certain he’s trying ahead to working with him and feels he’ll swimsuit the Jets’ system properly.
Analysts consider Klubnik might be best-served in a fast passing offense, however his capability to make performs along with his legs is a trait which is at all times fascinating for a backup possibility.
He has been a teammate of present Jets defensive lineman Payton Web page, and we can also’t overlook the connection between the brand new passing recreation coordinator, Seth Ryan, and the Clemson program.
As famous above, Klubnik was banged up throughout the 2025 season. He had an ankle damage in October, a quad contusion in November after which a thumb damage in December. He missed only one begin, as a result of ankle.
Clearly Klubnik displayed some toughness to play by a few of these points, and the Jets could also be hoping that they partially clarify his statistical regression.
Previous to final 12 months, accidents had been probably not a priority.
Klubnik appears to have impressed the Jets along with his soccer IQ throughout the pre-draft course of, despite the fact that there are examples of him making dangerous reads in his movie.
He’s engaged and a person of religion with no off-field issues. His teammates voted him as a everlasting crew captain forward of the 2025 season.
He was additionally a three-time all-ACC educational choice.
The Klubnik choose raised eyebrows, particularly in gentle of the trade-up. He was the fifth quarterback chosen regardless of many analysts not having him ranked of their prime 10.
Clearly the Jets group, maybe beneath Ryan’s course, was greater than Klubnik than the consensus – and excessive sufficient on him to maneuver up once they acquired a way different groups may very well be concerned with choosing him.
The Jets’ endless seek for a quarterback of the long run appears set to enter a brand new chapter throughout the offseason, because the Jets can have the ammunition to pick a prime prospect within the first spherical or make a blockbuster commerce for a veteran.
As to the place Klubnik matches into that, it appears way more doubtless that he’ll be capable to set up himself as a long-term backup and fringe starter possibility than to defy expectations and alter so comfortably to NFL life that the Jets begin to think about him as a possible future starter and a candidate to be their man going forwards.
For now, he simply must be a sponge and attempt to be taught as a lot as he can so the Jets can decide whether or not or not he has any sort of NFL future.
