NFL Draft insider is already raining on the Jets’ Cade Klubnik parade

Glancing at social media typically showed one of two reactions when the New York Jets drafted Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.

A significant portion of the fanbase praised the pick and celebrated Klubnik, a former consensus first-round prospect, falling to them in Round 4.

Others, though, cited Klubnik’s inconsistent final season at Clemson and the overall draft drop itself.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler evidently falls into the latter category, and then some.

Brugler published a story on Tuesday re-evaluating his 2025 preseason big board.

Klubnik initially placed No. 30 on Brugler’s rankings, though he finished No. 202 several months later.

The Jets clearly felt differently, selecting Klubnik at No. 110 last month.

“It was a surprise that he went as early as he did on Day 3,” Brugler wrote.

The Cade Klubnik doubters need to consider the context

To Brugler’s credit, he was more than willing to acknowledge how strange the initial big board looks in hindsight.

Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods was his No. 1 prospect last year. Woods nearly fell out of the first round before the Chiefs grabbed him at No. 29.

Klubnik was Brugler’s No. 7 quarterback. Of the four who were drafted this spring, only Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (No. 20 last preseason) went in the first round.

Texas’ Arch Manning and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers returned to college.

The context of Klubnik’s senior season is critical, however.

Not only did Klubnik battle injuries, but he was forced to work with an underwhelming Clemson offense.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has drawn immense criticism for his past reluctance to properly utilize the transfer portal.

Without making excuses for Klubnik, it’s fair to argue he wasn’t positioned to thrive in the current college football climate.

Clemson’s 7-6 record marked its worst since 2010, and the Tigers have failed to win double-digit games in two of the last three years.

Swinney and the Tigers won at least 10 games every season from 2011 through 2022.

Most concerningly, Clemson has only reached the College Football Playoff once since the start of 2021. Coincidentally, that was the first year of the modern transfer portal.

From the time that Clemson’s season ended with a Pinstripe Bowl loss, Klubnik was typically viewed as a third-round prospect at best.

Brugler being so down on Klubnik, though, is especially interesting given that it precedes the Jets’ involvement.

In other words, this isn’t an instance of someone dismissing Klubnik because the Jets are a punching bag.

Klubnik may need to wait to prove Brugler wrong, though. Jets coach Aaron Glenn previously confirmed that Geno Smith will start against Robert Saleh and the Titans in Week 1.

Barring injury, Klubnik will likely be the No. 3 quarterback behind Brady Cook or Bailey Zappe. There is no indication that the Jets intend to sign another veteran quarterback before training camp.

Although Russell Wilson met with the Jets earlier this spring, he is also reportedly considering moving to television and likely taking a job with CBS Sports.

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