Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik's current coach praised Klubnik’s preseason debut, touting his "moxie" and "confidence." Klubnik's former coach has chimed in, too.
“By the time I got to the office, he was out but I texted back and forth with him last night and just proud of him,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said regarding Klubnik's first NFL game, via Alexander Turri of USA Today. “I mean, like I said, he’s going to be a great pro.”
A fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft, Klubnik will have a chance to become the team's starter following Geno Smith 2.0.
“He's gonna play a long time,” Swinney added regarding Klubnik. “He’s a really, really talented quarterback and that’s why he got drafted and they’ve obviously seen that too right out of the gate. So, hopefully he stays healthy. If he does, he’s going to be one of those guys, you look up and he’s played quite a while.”
Klubnik played through two significant injuries in 2025 (wrist and ankle). His performance suffered from it, and the team underachieved. He nevertheless emerged from the down year undeterred by his pro prospects.
“In my mind, I’m a winner,” Klubnik said at the team's rookie minicamp. “I don’t mean that in a boastful way. I think that’s the mentality you have to have as a quarterback, and I think that my résumé has kind of showed that as well.”
The Jets could use a winner. The quarterback position in recent years has become a revolving door, fueled by a string of high-round quarterbacks whom the Jets shouldn't have picked (Zach Wilson, Christian Hackenberg) or failed to properly develop (Smith, Sam Darnold).
Klubnik has a chance to develop without the pressure and expectations that come from being a first- or second-round pick. And he has a chance to stabilize a position that, for the Jets, has lacked stability for decades.