Cade Klubnik NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report New York Jets QB

Damian ParsonDec 18, 2025

The New York Jets selected Clemson QB Cade Klubnik with the No. 110 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Cade Klubnik is an athletic quarterback with plus-level arm talent to succeed in the NFL, but he lacks consistency.

Klubnik is a threat to run designed QB concepts and improvise if the protection breaks down. He has to find consistency with decision-making and other nuances of playing the position.

Klubnik is a former highly-touted 5-star recruit in the 2022 class. His career has been a roller coaster in terms of on-field play and production. There have been too many instances of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Klubnik's performance at Clemson. He might be a better pro quarterback by being in a better ecosystem.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

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Where He Wins

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 22 Furman at Clemson

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- Klubnik is best when throwing off play action or RPO concepts. These plays allow him to read the field with a little extra time and identify false steps by second-level defenders to attack the voids within the coverage.

- His athleticism helps set his floor as a prospect. He is a straight-line athlete with a track background (400-meter state HS champion in Texas). He will add an adequate element to the playbook/playcalling and ground game.

- When he's playing on schedule, it looks good. Klubnik flashes anticipation on various throws. Throws very catchable passes at all three levels of the field.

- He delivers passes with good touch and arc, layering the football over the heads of defenders.

- Clemson's 5-star QB flashes pocket mobility when given time. He maneuvers nicely to evade the rush and deliver the football. Just needs to be consistent.

- Creating explosive plays down the middle of the field. He throws accurately on seams, posts, and deep in-breakers (Dagger).

- Klubnik is good when facing the blitz. When he reads the defensive shells pre-snap and the picture doesn't change, he will beat the blitz.

Areas of Improvement

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- Decision-making on true dropback sets. Klubnik has struggled to play with consistency without the threat of a running game.

- Feeling pressure inside the pocket for Clemson's third-year starter comes and goes. Sometimes he feels and evades, other times, he's locked into a read and takes unnecessary sacks.

- He struggles with post-snap reads. Too often, Klubnik believes what the defense is showing pre-snap, and the transition post-snap after the picture changes creates delayed reads and confusion for the QB.

- Klubnik's processing of information needs to speed up. He teeters between being early and being late. When he throws late, the ball enters vulnerable windows, giving the defenders an opportunity to make a play. Improve overall decision-making.

- Poor field vision and struggles to progress through his reads. More equipped to handle half-field reads.

- Lacks the lateral agility and elusiveness to make plays in the pocket if protection breaks down.