The New York Jets, after a massive offseason of acquiring new talent, have many questions surrounding the team this offseason, including the role of 2026 fourth-round pick in quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Jets’ insider Rich Cimini recently wrote about the five biggest questions for the organization this offseason, with Klubnik’s role heading into next season being an intriguing storyline this summer.

“The Jets haven't signed a veteran because they want to see what Klubnik can do over the next month,” Cimini wrote. “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.”

Klubnik, throughout his four seasons with the Clemson Tigers, was at one point one of the best quarterback prospects prior to the 2025 college football season.

As a junior, the young ACC playmaker recorded 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, while also rushing for 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. This incredible stretch from Klubnik quickly drove his draft stock before his final season with the Tigers, with many NFL Draft analysts predicting him to be a first-round quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.

However, this would not be the case, as the longtime Clemson quarterback saw a steep decline in his production during his senior season. Still, Klubnik managed to throw for nearly 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns while maintaining a career-best 65.6 completion percentage, which resulted in him being selected in the fourth round of the most recent draft by the Jets.

Now, with Klubnik joining New York’s lackluster quarterback room in 2026, there’s a chance that the rookie could make a name for himself this season behind veteran Geno Smith. Cimini also mentioned that if Klubnik does not live up to expectations this offseason, the Jets could add an additional veteran quarterback into the mix, with former New York Giants’ Russell Wilson being linked to the franchise.

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

While it remains unclear as to what Klubnik’s role will be with the Jets leading up to the 2026 season, it’s clear that the team’s latest fourth-round pick must prove himself throughout the course of OTAs and training camp.

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