Did the New York Jets find their quarterback of the future when least expected? If fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik rediscovers the form he showed at Clemson, one NFL scout believes the QB-needy Jets may have landed one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the Jets prepared to roll with veteran quarterback Geno Smith ahead of the 2026 NFL season and fans looking forward to the 2027 NFL Draft to land a potential franchise QB, it would be quite the surprise if a fourth-round pick emerged as the franchise quarterback. It would not only give the Jets an immediate boost, but also allow them to use their extra first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft to continue building the roster instead of forcing another quarterback selection.
The biggest question entering training camp is whether Klubnik can become the quarterback many evaluators believed he could be before injuries derailed his final college season. Well, in a FOX Sports roundup, NFL scouts were asked which 2026 rookie QB has the best chance to exceed expectations. One scout pointed at Klubnik based on his ceiling.
“The tools are all there: the arm, the athletic ability, and he’s really smart. His big flaw is that he can be pressured into bad decisions,” the scout told Fox Sports. “That’s a worry for someone with as much experience as he had. … He was just starting to look like himself again when he got hurt last year. He started a little slow, but it was coming along. The injury changed everything. … I never thought he was a can’t-miss prospect. He’s not as cool under pressure as (Fernando) Mendoza. But had he stayed healthy he probably could’ve been a second-rounder. Maybe late first. … On the right team he could be good. Just keep the pressure off him and he’s got the skills to make things happen. But he has to be in a better situation than he’s in right now.”
Why the Jets could be the perfect landing spot for Cade Klubnik
While history would suggest the Jets aren’t the best situation for young quarterbacks, the current setup of the team is exactly the setting a young QB like Klubnik needs to succeed. First, he doesn’t have high expectations or the pressure to be the guy with the Jets. Secondly, he gets to play behind a veteran like Smith and learn behind him. Lastly, and most importantly, the Jets do have talent offensively where Klubnik could easily find his niche.
Following the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets not only have a top tier running back in Breece Hall, but they also added another receiver in Omar Cooper Jr. to go along with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. With the selection of Kenyon Sadiq, they also have two pass-catching tight ends when pairing him with 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor. With those weapons in place, Klubnik could eventually push for the starting job if he develops behind Smith, and at the very least, give the Jets a reason to look at what they have with him ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft that will feature the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Julian Sayin as the top QB prospects.
If he shakes off an injury-plagued 2025 season and rediscovers the confidence that made him one of college football's most exciting quarterbacks in 2024, the Jets may have landed their franchise quarterback without spending a first-round pick. For a team expected to enter the 2027 NFL Draft searching for its future under center, that would be one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 rookie class.
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