Jets have no choice but to fix major Cade Klubnik problem before its too late

Heading into the summer, the New York Jets preordained rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik as the backup quarterback behind Geno Smith. The decision seemed questionable at the time, and it's aged even worse as the preseason progressed.

Despite getting the starting nod in two of those preseason games, Klubnik didn't knock anyone's socks off. In all three outings, the Clemson standout completed 21-of-34 pass attempts for 190 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. If this was his opportunity to slam the door shut on any concerns, Klubnik was unable to do so.

Helping him out was how uninspiring the quarterbacks behind him were. Both Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook were fairly underwhelming in their own reps during the preseason, leading Klubnik to be the de facto second-string quarterback. It seems that may not be the case anymore.

After the preseason finale on Friday night, head coach Aaron Glenn declined to name Klubnik the QB2 behind Smith, per ESPN's Rich Cimini, and said his final preseason outing was "up and down." He said he and Darren Mougey would evaluate the position going forward.

New York Jets have no choice but to acquire another quarterback behind Geno Smith

Gifting a fourth-round rookie quarterback the backup quarterback job before he even earns it is not a good idea, and the Jets were silly to think that it would've magically worked itself out over the course of training camp and the preseason.

Remember when the Jets first landed Aaron Rodgers and assumed they were safe to have Zach Wilson serve as the backup behind their future Hall of Fame starter? This isn't quite the same scenario, as the lofty expectations aren't the same, but it would be as big a mistake nonetheless.

If Smith goes down with an injury early on in 2026, Klubnik is not ready to be this team's starting quarterback from week to week, in the same way Wilson wasn't in 2023. The Jets are making essentially the same mistake now that they did back then.

After Wilson flamed out, they were forced to turn to the likes of Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian, and while the latter may have been a better option, it was too late. The season was over.

Glenn and Mougey can't afford another lost season in New York. If things go as poorly as they did last year, they'll both likely be looking for new jobs in 2027. With roster cutdowns on the horizon, the Jets should keep their eyes peeled for experienced quarterbacks who shake loose from other teams, or flip a draft pick to add another arm to the mix.

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