Jets need to shut down the growing Cade Klubnik questions

With roughly a month until training camp, New York Jets rookie Cade Klubnik is widely projected to be the No. 3 quarterback.

Not much has changed since the Jets drafted Klubnik in April, outside of a back injury that limited him during OTAs.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn previously confirmed that Geno Smith is the starter and that Bailey Zappe is the current favorite to win the backup job.

Yet, there’s been a growing external narrative of late that Klubnik, not Zappe, will earn the No. 2 spot.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay is the latest to buy high on the idea of Klubnik backing up Smith, calling it a “realistic expectation” for the former Clemson standout.

“While Klubnik is unlikely to usurp Smith in 2026, he’ll get valuable practice reps and put himself in prime position to compete for the starting job in 2027,” Kay wrote.

The Jets must publicly commit to Bailey Zappe, not Cade Klubnik, as Geno Smith’s backup

As the founder and CEO of the Cade Klubnik Hype Train, I personally just want him to properly develop and avoid a disastrous rookie season.

We suggest that Glenn and the Jets adopt a similar mindset. 

Kay is correct that, in theory, all Klubnik must do is beat out Zappe this summer. 

No one will confuse Zappe for Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, or Mac Jones, all of whom are proven backups capable of playing competently when needed.

That’s not a knock against Zappe, who himself is a former fourth-round pick with nine career starts.

When Russell Wilson opted to retire rather than sign with the Jets, that should have been the best indication that Zappe, not Klubnik or Brady Cook, will be the backup.

Potentially rushing Klubnik into the No. 2 role is dangerous, especially if the Jets only dress two quarterbacks.

There is no shame in Klubnik being the third-string quarterback. We’ve previously referenced how the Dolphins masterfully handled seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers last season.

Ewers went from third-stringer to starter by December and essentially guaranteed his place as the Dolphins’ backup, even after a regime change.

We’re extremely bullish on Klubnik, and we do believe he’ll have an excellent chance at seeing meaningful game action late in the season.

With that said, let’s hold off on appointing him as the presumptive backup. 

Slow and steady wins the race, and the Jets need whatever victories they can take. 

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