Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik could supplant a former No. 1 overall pick based on this new NFL Draft prediction.
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik has been everywhere when it comes to NFL Draft boards.
While most have him as a Day 3 pick, I have seen him ranging from Round 4 all the way through the final round. I have even seen some say he could sneak into the very late stages of Day 2 this April.
Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that Klubnik is an intriguing player going into the draft, and he does have an outside shot of eventually starting somewhere on the professional level.
That being said, there are some teams that certainly present greater opportunities than others for the Clemson product.
Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network, for example, just published a seven-round mock draft, and he has Klubnik landing with the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round.
The Panthers selected Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, and while he definitely showed signs of progress this season, he is still far from a sure thing. In fact, there was even talk of benching Young early on in 2025.
Cade Klubnik. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Enter Klubnik, who, unlike Andy Dalton, could actually put some pressure on Young.
Remember: Klubnik was viewed as a potential top pick himself going into his final season at Clemson after throwing for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns while also rushing for 463 yards and seven scores in 2024.
In hindsight, the 22-year-old probably should have just entered the draft last year.
Klubnik's stock has taken a nosedive thanks to a rough 2025 campaign in which he threw for less than 3,000 yards and just 16 touchdowns. Additionally, he managed a meager 94 yards on the ground after displaying such impressive dual-threat capabilities the season prior.
The Austin, Tx. native doesn't excel tremendously in any one particular area, which has many wondering about his NFL chops. But there is no question that Carolina comprises one of the most compelling potential destinations for Klubnik.
It stands to reason that Klubnik could ultimately replace Young if the latter struggles in 2026. There are still some who really like Klubnik's talent, so we can't rule anything out when it comes to the Tigers signal-caller.
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