This will probably happen once the New York Jets fall out of contention.
The New York Jets are predicted by NFL insider Dan Graziano of ESPN to bench Geno Smith for Cade Klubnik this season.
Graziano believes the Jets will turn to Klubnik "once they fall out of contention."
"The Jets are better than they were in 2025," Graziano wrote. "Smith shows that it was the Las Vegas Raiders' dysfunction and Chip Kelly's offense that held him back, and he looks more like his Seattle Seahawks self. But once they fall out of contention, the Jets turn to Klubnik to evaluate his potential place in their future plans. They win somewhere between six and eight games, and Aaron Glenn gets another year as head coach. The Jets maneuver with their trove of picks to select the quarterback they like the best."
Klubnik started and played well in the Jets' first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Clemson product went 5/7 through the air for 56 passing yards.
Klubnik, starting in place of the injured Smith, led the Jets' offense to two scoring drives and the rookie could start again this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers as Smith is still dealing with a left ankle injury.
"I want to see exactly how he feels coming out of this practice to see how we're going to continue to move forward," Glenn said.
Entering the 2025 college football season, Klubnik was projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, but after he and Clemson struggled, Klubnik's draft stock took a hit.
The Jets selected Klubnik with the 110th overall pick in the 2026 draft. Even though his draft fall was significant, Klubnik still has a lot of confidence in his game.
Klubnik finished the 2025 college football season with 2,943 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns. He threw for 10,123 passing yards and 73 touchdowns in his Clemson career.
Klubnik is competing with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the Jets' No. 2 QB spot. If Smith struggles this season, don't be surprised if Glenn puts Klubnik in to see what the rookie can do.
Smith is looking to turn back the clock in his second stint with the Jets after leading the NFL in interceptions last season with the Raiders. Smith's best seasons in the NFL came with the Seahawks in 2022 and 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Smith enters this season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
Smith has been throwing a lot of interceptions in training camp, so all signs point to Klubnik starting at some point in the 2026 regular season.
