ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid ranked the best quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class as things stand now, stacking up the signal callers who are draft eligible and could hear their names called in next year’s draft.
Clemson’s Cade Klubnik landed all the way down at No. 13 in Reid’s 2026 NFL draft QB rankings.
Back in the spring, Reid projected Klubnik to be the No. 1 overall pick. Fast forward to the present, and Reid currently sees the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior as a mid-to-late Day 3 pick.
“With four starters returning along the Tigers’ offensive line and his top three wide receivers back for another season, I thought Klubnik had the best supporting cast in the country and a prime opportunity to build off a breakout 2024,” Reid wrote. “That’s part of why I had him as the No. 1 pick in my way-too-early mock draft in May. Through five games, Klubnik has 1,250 passing yards, 10 touchdown throws and 4 interceptions. He’s most comfortable operating off play-action, as he has 6 touchdowns, 1 interception and an 80% completion percentage there.
“Klubnik has stretches of hot and cold play throughout games, similar to a streaky 3-point shooter. His clean throwing release allows him to distribute the ball evenly to all his targets in the underneath areas the Tigers operate in. Klubnik is also a threat as a runner when forced to break the pocket.”
In Saturday’s game against Boston College, Klubnik completed 22-of-30 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown prior to exiting the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury. He also added 48 yards and a touchdown on nine rushing attempts.
After Week 7 of the college football campaign, Klubnik ranks 43rd nationally in completion percentage (65.8), 29th in passing yards (1,530), tied for 59th in yards per attempt (7.6), tied for 34th in touchdown passes (11), 59th in passer rating (142.48) and 28th in passing yards per game (255.0).
Reid weighed in on where Klubnik “needs work” in his game.
“Klubnik has a lot of borderline-average traits but doesn’t have one superior trait,” Reid wrote. “Outside of his Week 6 performance against North Carolina (22-of-24, 254 yards and 4 TDs), Klubnik has hesitated throwing the ball on time, too. I saw him up close against LSU in the season opener and noticed that he had timing troubles when reading concepts. His anticipation skills have been lacking, and he has been defaulting to waiting for teammates to get open before throwing.”
Oregon’s Dante Moore is No. 1 in Reid’s NFL draft QB rankings, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Miami’s Carson Beck rounding out the top five.
Klubnik is ranked just ahead of Texas QB Arch Manning at No. 14.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.