No. 2 Jets QB is Klubnik’s job to lose

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team is not concerned about Smith’s foot soreness, writing, “if this was a regular-season game, he’d be a go.” Smith has reportedly been pushing the ball downfield in practice. Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the Jets’ passing attack will have to check back next week to see if the foot issue has been resolved. Rookie QB Cade Klubnik gets the start tonight.

Glenn added that Zappe took the second-team reps behind Geno Smith in practice on Wednesday. Zappe has the most NFL experience of the bunch, so that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It also doesn’t mean he will hold the QB2 job into Week 1. Since entering the NFL, Zappe ranks 78th out of 84 qualified quarterbacks in EPA per play (min. 150 plays). The good news for him is that Cook holds spot No. 84. As a fourth-round pick, Klubnik does have some potential, and his competition for the QB2 job is exceptionally weak. No matter who earns the backup gig, the hope for Jets fans will be that we never see them in 2026.

(Deep sigh.) “The word ‘“aura”’ has been thrown around — including by running back Breece Hall — after a slo-mo video of Klubnik walking out to practice on Thursday,” Rosenblatt writes. Klubnik also gathered Jets rookies at the team hotel to run through plays in a weight room even though the receivers were running “three-yard routes” in Klubnik’s words. We suppose there’s a low bar for excitement on the Jets quarterback front. It’s plausible that Klubnik rebounds from a down final season at Clemson that claimed the draft stock of both himself and several of his teammates. We’d be surprised if he made a real push to play this year without injuries ahead of him.

The Jets traded No. 128 and No. 140 to the Bengals for this pick and No. 199. Klubnik (6’2/207) was the No. 1 QB of the 2022 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. The former Clemson Tiger peaked in 2024, throwing for 3,642-36-6 while leading his team to a 10-4 record, but he regressed to a 2,946-16-6 line in 2025, completing 65.2 percent of his passes. He’s an undersized but mobile QB who totaled 878 rushing yards and 17 rush touchdowns in his career, but managed just 94 rushing yards last season. Some of that can be attributed to the decline in designed runs he saw from 2024 to 2025. When Klubnik was at his best, he operated in an offense that ran RPOs at a 20.8 percent clip, per TruMedia, so the dip to a 13.8 percent RPO rate last season may explain some of his struggles. His career 5.7 ADOT on completed passes, along with his underwhelming big-time throw rate of 3.8 percent, per PFF, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Klubnik’s career adjusted completion percentage of 74.9 percent, but the numbers fall off drastically when he pushes the ball into the short and intermediate parts of the field. His traits and former five-star pedigree will warrant a further look, but Klubnik seems destined for a backup QB role at the next level. However, he’ll get the chance to compete against Geno Smith for the Jets’ starting job this season.

Matthew Stafford, 38, is entrenched as the 2026 starter. Bonsignore writes that “the Rams are already planning for that inevitable transition” that will occur whenever Stafford chooses to retire. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is unlikely to be available when the Rams are on the clock with the 13th and 29th first-round picks. Bonsignore singles out Alabama QB Ty Simpson as an option for the Rams, while noting that they will likely take a look at Penn State QB Drew Allar, Miami QB Carson Beck, Arkansas QB Taylen Green, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine.

Lentz reports that HC Dabo Swinney is saying Klubnik is up to 195 pounds after being billed at 6-foot-2, 186 pounds in spring. He adds that the five-star freshman “doesn’t look like the same person”. Lentz also cautions that Swinney said DJU is in great shape as well, so read between the lines what you will. Klubnik had a better spring game performance than DJU but as a true freshman it’s going to be hard to beat out the incumbent in terms of drawing the opening day start. However Dabo has shown with the Kelly Bryant-Trevor Lawrence passing of the torch that he will not hesitate to make a transition if the offense isn’t clicking.

Uiagalelei (6'4/250) is in competition with freshman QB Cade Klubnik for this year’s starting role, and didn’t help himself in the spring game. The veteran QB once viewed as a Heisman Trophy contender failed to throw a touchdown, while completing just 47.2% of his passes. Klubnik appeared a little more polished, completing 15-of-23 passes for 106 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Uiagalelei had nine touchdown passes for 10 interceptions last season in 13 games, and has just 14 career touchdowns in 22 games.

Klubnik (6'2/186) is the industry consensus number one quarterback from the 2022 prep cycle, and that point was driven home by Gorney with the Rivals analyst citing his performance at the Elite 11 camps and a flawless regular season being reasons why Klubnik is the best signal caller from next year’s class. The Austin, TX native is ranked as the 20th overall prospect on the 247Sports composite board and was recently named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and will compete in the upcoming All-American Bowl.

Klubnik (6'2/185) sustained a torn AC joint in his throwing shoulder during his high school team’s playoff run over the winter. He was forced to keep his wing immobilized for six weeks following the injury, after which he started into more intensive physical therapy. The Austin, Texas, native recently estimated that his arm is back to 90 percent health. Still plenty of time to get completely right before the start of his senior season of prep ball. Klubnik committed to Clemson at the beginning of March, with Rivals ranking the signal-caller as the No. 40 overall prospect for the 2022 cycle.

Klubnik (6'2/186) is rated as a high four-star caliber talent that is considered the fifth best pro-style quarterback and 14th overall prospect in the state of Texas from the 2022 prep cycle. He has received 31 offers in total thus far, including overtures from notable schools such as Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Florida and Michigan among many others. Clemson’s 2022 class is now ranked 17th nationally and has the third rated recruiting haul in the ACC, though it is still very early in the process.