Jets' latest woes could start the uncomfortable Cade Klubnik conversation

Well, it took until early October for the Geno Smith-Cade Klubnik conversations to restart, which is later than some New York Jets fans may have envisioned.

You take the victories where they come, especially when the Jets are involved.

In all seriousness, there’s no indication that Aaron Glenn and the free-falling Jets will change quarterbacks before or during Sunday’s game against the AFC North-leading Browns.

Smith has played competently, and the turnover-prone veteran hasn’t thrown an interception yet. It's no exaggeration to say he’s been one of the team’s few consistent positives amid a three-game losing streak.

Why, then, would the 1-3 Jets make such a drastic change this early in the year? Think it over, and you’ll realize things aren’t so simple. 

Should the New York Jets bench veteran quarterback Geno Smith for Cade Klubnik?

To be clear, the Jets shouldn't permanently bench Smith just yet. He’s done nothing to lose the starting role, and Klubnik isn’t a first-rounder waiting in the wings. Neither Glenn nor general manager Darren Mougey should feel compelled to rush a quarterback switch through four games.

Glenn is the key factor here. The Jets are 4-17 through his first 21 games, and he’s quickly lost the fanbase’s goodwill and support. Things are so bad that Chicago Bears linebacker Devin Bush said he wasn’t sore after last Sunday’s win, perhaps because the Jets ran only 32 offensive plays.

Suppose the Jets enter the fourth quarter trailing 24-3 on Sunday afternoon. What does Glenn have to lose by putting Klubnik in with the starting offense? We proposed that exact idea both before and after the draft; the Miami Dolphins did it with seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers last year, and he started the final three games.

No one is arguing that Klubnik, a fourth-round pick this past April, is destined to become the next Kirk Cousins or Brock Purdy. But if the Jets fire Glenn within the coming weeks, then there is no reason to keep Smith as the starter.

In fact, Mougey should be calling the Baltimore Ravens or Washington Commanders to gauge their interest in adding the two-time Pro Bowler as insurance. Washington could start third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis against the New York Giants on Sunday; as for Baltimore, the always-dangerous Lamar Jackson is hurt yet again, though the Ravens haven’t ruled him out for Week 5.

Smith, who turns 36 on Saturday, has always been viewed externally as a one-year stopgap option. He’s more than done his part for a Jets team that seemingly fooled us all into thinking they could stay competitive. Management might as well see what they have in Klubnik before next spring’s draft arrives — along with possibly landing Arch Manning or Trinidad Chambliss.

What a magical time to be a Jets fan. Remember when everyone felt happy and confident after the Week 1 win over Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans? Those were the good old days.

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