ESPN has bad news for the early Cade Klubnik Jets fans

Barely a month into his time with the New York Jets, Cade Klubnik’s observers typically fall into one of two schools of thought.

There’s the first group, which is made up of those who believe Klubnik will spend the entire season on the bench, see minimal snaps, and be a forgotten third-stringer by this time next year.

Then, the other section is far more optimistic, with some even believing the Jets might turn to Klubnik as a replacement for Geno Smith come December.

Although ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t quite fit into either category, he definitely leans more toward one side of the conversation.

While evaluating all 32 teams’ quarterback situations, Graziano said he believes the Jets already have their eyes set on next year’s draft class.

“I guess it’s possible Klubnik could get into some games this season and show enough that they think about moving forward with him as the long-term starter,” Graziano wrote, “but that seems unlikely given where they drafted him and because Smith seems set as the 2026 starter.”

Smith turns 36 in October and will be a free agent next year. Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook, who are competing for the backup job, are both on one-year deals.

Don’t write Jets rookie Cade Klubnik off just yet 

The pivotal question involving Klubnik shouldn’t necessarily be whether he’ll be competing for a starting job in 2027.

Instead, Klubnik’s goal should be to position himself to be the unquestioned backup next season.

Aiming for the No. 2 spot might not sound too impressive, but consider the Dolphins’ Quinn Ewers. When he reported to training camp last July, Ewers was a seventh-round rookie behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson.

Ewers, not Wilson, eventually started the Dolphins’ final three games amid a lost season. Rather than retool the entire quarterback room this offseason, the Dolphins signed Malik Willis and are sticking with Ewers as the backup.

As Graziano pointed out, the Jets have three first-round picks in next year’s draft. The Arch Manning and Dante Moore speculation is already well underway, just as it was last fall. 

Of course, there’s the possibility that a veteran quarterback — Joe Burrow, perhaps? — will become available via trade. Having that kind of trade capital could certainly help land a proven starter.

Even last December, Ewers faced an incredibly uphill — and arguably insurmountable — path to becoming the Dolphins’ 2026 starting quarterback. Klubnik already finds himself in the same scenario.

The only guarantee, though, is that there are no guarantees. In other words, get ready for the inevitable Ewers-Klubnik showdown in Week 12.

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