Cade Klubnik, the pride of Clemson and a true Tiger gunslinger, is already proving to the NFL what we in Tiger Nation have known all along: this kid is a born winner.
When the New York Jets traded up in the fourth round to snag our five-star legend, they sent a message: they wanted a winner, and they got one. Klubnik has wasted no time in his first pro offseason, outworking and outshining the competition just like he did in Death Valley. The national media is finally catching on to what we've seen for years—Cade's relentless drive is about to rocket him up the Jets' depth chart in New York.
Winning the Open Competition
Most rookies get swallowed up by the NFL spotlight, but not Cade Klubnik. His years leading the Tigers in the heat of ACC battles have him battle-tested and ready for anything. Even Sports Illustrated is jumping on the bandwagon, projecting our Clemson star to rise above the pack and lock down a prime roster spot this fall.
"It’s not a given that Klubnik will open the season as Geno Smith’s backup after coach Aaron Glenn recently said that veteran Bailey Zappe is No. 2 on the depth chart, but he added that there’s an 'open competition' for the role," Gilberto Manzano said. "I predict that Klubnik will win the QB2 job this summer, and it bodes well that he’s already received praise from Smith for the way he prepares throughout the week. Most teams would rather not have a rookie fourth-rounder as the backup QB, but the Jets likely wouldn’t mind seeing what they have in Klubnik before next year’s loaded QB draft class. Klubnik played 49 games during his four years at Clemson."
Earning Praise From the Starter
Klubnik’s Clemson legacy is the stuff of legend. He leaves Tiger Town as the all-time leader in pass completions (916) and attempts (1,432), and sits near the top in just about every major category—third in passing yards (10,123), fourth in passing touchdowns (73), total TDs (90), and total offense (11,001). Simply put, he rewrote the record books.
A two-time ACC Champion and two-time ACC Championship MVP, Klubnik went 26-14 as Clemson’s starter. Who could forget his epic showdown against his hometown Texas Longhorns in the 2024 College Football Playoff? He torched them for 336 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-43 passing, with just one pick. That’s Tiger grit on the biggest stage.
That championship DNA is already turning heads in New York. Jets starter and 13-year NFL vet Geno Smith couldn’t help but heap praise on his new rookie teammate.
“He can spin the heck out of the ball,” Smith said of Klubnik. “I feel like he’s the guy who’s always prepared. He’s been preparing as if he’s going to be the starter … I’ve seen that from him. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Smitten in Gotham
The veteran leadership isn't the only group captivated by Klubnik's presence. The Jets' offensive braintrust is already heavily invested in molding the former Tiger into a future NFL star.
Even ESPN’s Rich Cimini has noticed the extra attention Klubnik is getting from the Jets’ staff during rookie workouts. They’re not wasting a second putting his elite football IQ to the test.
"I think Frank Reich and Bill Musgrave were smitten with him...during the pre-draft process," Cimini said. "I know they put a lot of time into it, and Musgrave's a guy who doesn't get mentioned that much because, you know, Frank Reich is kind of the guy on offense, but I watched Musgrave in these rookie practices. He's a very vocal guy, and it just seems like he's putting a lot into it; he's challenging Klubnik. It looked like he was maybe changing plays and putting him in positions to do that. Making him think on his feet."
Any doubts about a rookie ceiling are gone. The door is wide open, and nobody’s giving Cade anything he hasn’t earned. With his Clemson pedigree and relentless drive, get ready—Cade Klubnik is about to take New York by storm.
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