![\"Cade](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2235811273-e1778886782473.jpg\")
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Former Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik reacting in the middle of a college football game against Georgia Tech.<\/p>\n
The New York Jets<\/a> traded up to select Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik<\/a> in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\n The natural question after he got drafted is when will we see him on the field? Brad Gagnon<\/a> of Bleacher Report predicted that we will see Klubnik make his rookie debut as a starter in Week 15 on the road against the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cJets brass has raved about [Geno] Smith<\/a>, but we\u2019re talking about a 35-year-old who has thrown 32 interceptions the last two seasons combined and is clearly not the long-term solution for this team,\u201d Gagnon wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cSo again, this is a situation in which the team will want to have a decent feel for its in-house options before potentially doing something drastic in the upcoming offseason. And a perfect opportunity to get a look at Klubnik might come when they are likely to be eliminated for a matchup with the soft Cardinals<\/a> in mid-December,\u201d Gagnon added.<\/p>\n A Good Debate<\/p>\n The Jets have four<\/a> quarterbacks on the 91-man roster:<\/p>\n Smith is the clear-cut QB1. The rest of the room will battle for the QB2 role. Zappe is the most proven of the group, but that isn\u2019t necessarily saying much.<\/p>\n On my morning show, \u201cBoy Green Daily\u201d<\/a>, a caller asked when Klubnik would make his rookie debut for the Jets in the regular season.<\/p>\n If the Jets brass had their druthers, he wouldn\u2019t see the field in 2026 \u2014 at least during the regular season. Head coach Aaron Glenn already predicted that we would see him a ton during the preseason, which makes plenty of sense.<\/p>\n However, during the regular season, the Jets hope Smith can stay healthy, put up some points, and deliver some wins for coach Glenn.<\/p>\n Injuries could always change those plans. Putting that possibility aside, if Smith is a disaster and continues to make bad decisions with turnovers, then the Jets could pull the plug in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n The most logical place<\/a> would be after the Jets\u2019 Week 13 bye. If the Jets are 4-8 or worse at that point of the season, the team could throw up its hands and say why not.<\/p>\n The Jets have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL<\/a> draft. There is a very high likelihood that one of those picks is spent on a quarterback. Before you make that decision, it would make sense to evaluate what you already have on the roster.<\/p>\n Former NFL Scout Talks Klubnik: EXCLUSIVE<\/p>\n Former NFL player and scout, Bucky Brooks, joined me on \u201cBoy Green Daily.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n He was asked about the Jets taking a chance on Klubnik on day three of the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think it was a worthy dart throw. When you\u2019re drafting players in the fourth round, what you\u2019re doing, in essence, is you\u2019re saying the fourth through seventh rounds are where the developmental players are drafted. What the Jets are saying is look, we think Cade Klubnik has enough redeeming qualities to be a developmental prospect, someone that can develop into either a capable starter or a credible backup in our system,\u201d Brooks told me.<\/p>\n NFL Network\u2019s @BuckyBrooks<\/a> explained to me why he thinks rookie QB Cade Klubnik was a worthy dart throw for the #Jets<\/a> during the #NFLDraft<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, there is something about having a guy that is experienced, who\u2019s had his fair share of ups and downs, and he\u2019s come out the other <\/p>\n \n\t\t\tPaul Esden Jr.<\/a> covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t