Cade Klubnik draft pick displaying strong early returns in Jets rookie minicamp

When the New York Jets traded up for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik in the 2026 NFL Draft, there were certainly some eyebrows raised considering the cost of the move and the prospect himself.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had some questions as soon as the pick was in, and for good reason. The Jets sent two fourth-round picks to move up 18 spots for a quarterback who struggled in his final season of college football.

Despite having the pedigree of a first-round pick at the start of his collegiate career, Klubnik took a step back in his senior season with the Tigers, finishing with a 7-6 record, throwing for less than 3,000 yards and tossing 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions.

But the early returns in Jets rookie minicamp have been incredibly positive for Klubnik, and it's starting to feel like New York may have something in the 110th overall pick.

Cade Klubnik impressing early with leadership skills at Jets rookie minicamp

Despite some initial concerns after the pick, Klubnik has been showing out at rookie minicamp, both on and off the football field.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt shared some tantalizing plays from rookie practices, and it should give Jets fans plenty of reason to be excited.

Of course, these workouts and practices aren't close to the real deal yet, and fans will get their first real taste of Klubnik in preseason action. But it doesn't change the fact that New York seems to have an exciting young quarterback on their hands.

It hasn't just been his play on the practice field, too. Klubnik has taken on a leadership role as well. Rosenblatt shared that the rookie quarterback got his teammates together at the hotel they're staying at, studying plays, and ran a walkthrough.

Although it's an incredibly small sample size, there's plenty of reason to be excited about Klubnik so far. How often can Jets fans be excited about a quarterback they drafted?

Considering the current state of the Jets' quarterback room, their rookie fourth-round pick has a real shot to win the backup job behind Geno Smith.

Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook are the only other two signal-callers on the roster, and neither is exactly a lock to be QB2. If Klubnik can continue establishing himself throughout the summer, he may just be New York's primary insurance policy if Smith goes down with injury.

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