NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The New York Jets are in a bit of no man’s land when it comes to quarterbacks, but they hope to have found a diamond in the rough on Day 3.
Gang Green traded up in the fourth round to select Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The Jets took Justin Fields last year during Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey’s first season in New Jersey, and it didn’t go the way they expected.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik throws the ball during the first half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on December 27, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
After cutting bait with Fields, the Jets acquired Geno Smith via trade as a stopgap measure – there was speculation that the Jets might select Ty Simpson out of Alabama with the 16th pick, but the Los Angeles Rams landed him at 13th overall.
As a result, given that Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, there weren’t many options for the Jets.
The numbers for next year’s quarterback class stack up pretty nicely, with Arch Manning seemingly leading the pack. However, it remains to be seen where the Jets will stand for next year’s picks.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik runs with the ball during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against North Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina on December 3, 2022. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)
THE LEGEND OF THE GIANTS LAWRENCE TAYLOR, 67, HOSPITALIZED AFTER MEDICAL EMERGENCY: REPORT
New York gave the Cincinnati Bengals the 128th and 140th picks in exchange for the 110th and 190th selections.
Klubnik plans to back up Smith to start the season, but if the Jets’ season ends early, they could potentially take a long look at Klubnik to see what he’s really made of.
Klubnik played in 2024 with 36 touchdowns, but he threw 20 fewer last season, lowering his draft stock.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik throws a football during practice at the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex in Clemson, South Carolina on August 1, 2025. (Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network South Carolina)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
In three seasons as a starter, totaling 39 games, Klubnik completed 64.2% of his passes for 9,426 yards, 71 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
