Jets' Cade Klubnik Reacts to 2026 NFL Draft Slide, 'In My Mind, I'm a Winner'

New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik says he feels his final season at Clemson helped him prepare for the adversity of falling into the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Klubnik was asked during a Saturday press conference during Jets rookie minicamp if his Day 3 selection resulted in a chip on his shoulder.

"To be honest, not really," Klubnik answered. "God had a plan for me, and this is where I'm at right now, and I'm thankful for it. I'm thankful for what happened this last year, because I feel like I'm more prepared for the future because of it."

Klubnik shot up draft boards after strong campaigns in 2023 and 2024 only to struggle last season, during which he played through ankle and wrist injuries as Clemson went 7-6 to mark the program's worst record since 2010.

"I think that in my mind, I'm a winner. I don't mean that in a boastful way. I think that that's the mentality you have to have as a quarterback... but this past year, we didn't win as much," Klubnik said Saturday. "We started out the year 3-5 at Clemson. That's a tough place to be."

Klubnik continued, "For me, I think that I really learned how to truly face adversity and just attack it. And I think because of that, I'm really thankful.

"If I would've gone and had the exact year that I'd dreamed and worked for, I don't think I'd be prepared as much as I am now."

The Jets and Klubnik agreed Thursday to a rookie contract projected by Spotrac to be worth $5.6 million over four years.

Klubnik will now head into his rookie season as one of four quarterbacks on the Jets' depth chart alongside Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe.

The Jets have an offer out to Russell Wilson to serve as Smith's backup, per SNY's John Flanigan. Should Wilson accept that deal, Klubnik will hope his experience at Clemson can help him compete with Cook and Zappe for the QB3 role.

Smith is heading into the season on an expiring deal, and Wilson would also likely be signed as a one-year rental. Establishing himself as a third-string option now could set Klubnik on track for a bigger 2027 role on an offense bolstered by the return of Garrett Wilson, the re-signing of Breece Hall and the draft additions of Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq.