New York Jets QB Coach Gets Brutally Honest About Rookie Cade Klubnik

New York Jets rookie QB Cade Klubnik has impressed quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave.

Klubnik will compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the Jets' No. 2 QB spot.  

"He's very eager to get this thing and figure it out," Musgrave said, via ESPN. "He's ready to rock and roll. [He asks] a lot of good questions. He's a good athlete. At his pro day, he might have run 4.57 [second 40-yard dash time], so he can move.

"It'll be fun to see him versus live bullets in these preseason games and watch him develop because he's got a lot of athletic skills. We'll try to harness them and have him get good at this football thing at the pro level."

Entering the 2025 college football season, Klubnik was projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, but since he and Clemson struggled, Klubnik's draft stock was damaged. 

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. 

"The young guys aren't as entrenched mechanically, but he's pretty sound," Musgrave said. "He's a good a good base, a good rhythm. ... He's got plenty good grip [on the ball], so there's not a lot of slipping in mid-motion. Those balls aren't coming unraveled when he throws it. He throws a nice, tight spiral.

"He really has a great skill set. I don't think we could be any more excited to work with a young guy than we are with Cade."

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