You can't rattle New York Jets QB Cade Klubnik.
New York Jets rookie QB Cade Klubnik played very well in his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Clemson product went 5/7 through the air for 56 passing yards.
Klubnik led the Jets' offense to two scoring drives.
"Although I'm a young player, I think that I'm poised," Klubnik said. "We put some drives together, that was fun and, you know, I still made some mistakes out there. Being able to learn from those and respond from those quickly and have my teammates kind of have my back whenever those did happen, that was good to see."
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was impressed with how Klubnik operated, considering Klubnik hadn't had many reps with the first-team offense before kickoff. Klubnik completed his first three passes before missing a short connection on the left side.
The Jets started Klubnik because starter Geno Smith was ruled out with an injury. Klubnik became only the third rookie QB in Jets history to start a preseason opener.
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.
"In my mind, I'm a winner," Klubnik said at Jets rookie minicamp. "I don't mean that in a boastful way. I think that's the mentality you have to have as a quarterback, and I think that my résumé has kind of showed that as well."
Klubnik finished the 2025 college football season with 2,943 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns. He put up 10,123 passing yards and 73 passing 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.
