Former Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 110th overall pick, joining a Jets QB room that also includes Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe.

Smith, the 14-year veteran, has already been named the starter by Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. But will Klubnik be the team’s backup QB as a rookie in the upcoming season?

Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets for ESPN, weighed in on that very topic. Cimini says the Jets are holding off on signing a veteran QB and want to see what Klubnik can do in organized team activities (OTAs) before potentially adding a veteran backup.

The Jets’ OTA workouts are scheduled for May 27-29 and June 1-2, 4 and 8-11, prior to a full-squad mandatory minicamp from June 16-18.  Here’s where Cimini wrote about the team’s QB situation entering OTAs:

“The Jets haven’t signed a veteran because they want to see what Klubnik can do over the next month. That goes for Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, too, but it’s really about Klubnik, a fourth-round pick.

“Klubnik looked good at the recent rookie camp, but that was against mostly undrafted free agents and tryout players. The speed will intensify at OTAs, which should give the coaches a better idea of his ability to absorb and execute the system.

“If he doesn’t knock it out of the park, the Jets can always acquire a veteran for training camp. They’ve been in contact with a number of free agents, most notably Russell Wilson.”

Wilson, 37, has said he is weighing options and deciding between continuing his NFL career as a backup QB for the Jets or making the jump to TV with CBS.

As for the QBs currently on New York’s roster behind Smith – Zappe, a fourth-year pro, has nine career starts under his belt between his time with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Cook started four games last season after signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent.

Klubnik was considered a potential first-round pick during his career at Clemson, especially in the offseason prior to his senior season last year, following a junior season during which he passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions while leading the Tigers to an ACC title and appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Unfortunately, Klubnik’s senior season in 2025 did not go as planned. The Tigers as a team had a highly disappointing 7-6 season, and Klubnik himself saw his numbers fall off compared to his stellar 2024 campaign, as he threw for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and six picks.

As a result, Klubnik’s draft stock suffered as well, and he didn’t come off the board until Day 3 of this year’s NFL Draft. That’s when the Jets traded up to get him, dealing away two fourth-round picks (Nos. 128 and 140) to the Cincinnati Bengals in order to move up 18 spots and grab him in the fourth round.

Though his senior season did not go as he had hoped, Klubnik, a two-time ACC Championship Game MVP, exited Clemson as the school-record-holder in pass completions (916) and pass attempts (1,432), third in passing yards (10,123), fourth in passing touchdowns (73), total touchdown responsibility (90) and total offense (11,001). He also joined Rodney Williams (44), Tajh Boyd (40), Nealon Greene (40) and Charlie Whitehurst (40) as the fifth quarterback in Clemson history to start at least 40 career games at quarterback. Klubnik posted a 26-14 record as a starter, concluding his career fifth in wins by a starting quarterback in school history.