Draft surprise: Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik picked in NFL fourth round
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is headed to the NFL earlier than expected.
The New York Jets traded up to pick Klubnik No. 110 overall in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. It’s a surprising selection, as most draft analysts projected Klubnik to go in the sixth or seventh round.
He is the first Clemson quarterback drafted since Trevor Lawrence went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. The Jets moved up 18 spots from No. 128 to No. 110 to land Klubnik, who said the selection “means a lot to me.”
“I was really hoping for this,” Klubnik said, per Jets.com. I woke up this morning thinking, ‘I hope the Jets pick me.’ I had a feeling they were going to.”
Klubnik played in 49 games at Clemson and was a three-year starter for the Tigers after replacing DJ Uiagalelei late in his 2022 true freshman season.
A former five-star recruit from Austin, Texas, Klubnik finished his Clemson career ranked third in passing yards (10,123) and fourth in passing touchdowns (73), total touchdowns (90) and total offense (11,001).
There were plenty of highs for Klubnik, a two-time ACC championship game MVP who led the Tigers to conference crowns in 2022 and 2024, as well as a 2024 College Football Playoff appearance, where he was excellent in a loss at Texas.
Heading into his senior year, some mock drafts had Klubnik as the No. 1 overall pick. But he plateaued during his senior year, saw his passing yardage and touchdown pass totals drop significantly and couldn’t make enough winning plays for a Tigers team that was the preseason No. 4 team but finished 7-6.
Klubnik finished 26-14 (.650) as a starting QB under Dabo Swinney and was the fifth winningest quarterback in school history.
“I think he has the potential to be a starter in the NFL at some point,” Swinney said. “.... I think his best football is in front of him. He has a unique skill set. I think he’s a dual-threat guy who has the ability to create and extend plays and make plays with his legs.”
The Jets coincidentally drafted Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd in the sixth round in 2014, though he never appeared in a game. Boyd was a close mentor and confidante of Klubnik at Clemson, where he’s now an offensive assistant.
New York views Klubnik as a developmental quarterback behind veteran Geno Smith, who was brought in as the starter for coach Aaron Glenn’s team. The Jets were 3-14 last season and haven’t made the playoffs since 2010.
The Jets’ QB room also includes Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook. New York hired former Colts and Panthers coach Frank Reich as its offensive coordinator, and Klubnik said Saturday he’s already been in communication with Reich.
ESPN insider Pete Thamel said in a post on X Klubnik’s selection was a “big surprise.” Klubink was the fourth QB taken behind Fernando Mendoza (first round), Ty Simpson (first round), Carson Beck (third round) and Drew Allar (third round).
He went another of other notable QB prospects including LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Arkansas’ Taylen Green, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King.
Klubnik joins Steve Fuller (1979), Charlie Whitehurst (2006), Boyd (2013), Deshaun Watson (2017) and Lawrence (2021) as the sixth Clemson quarterback taken in the common draft era. He is the fourth QB drafted in the Swinney era (2009-present).
“He’s a leader and is one of those guys that I think we’re going to all look up down the road and say, ‘Man, this kid’s a player,’” Swinney said. “I’m excited for him. I think he’s a higher-level talent than where he got drafted. ... I think he’s a guy that has got a chance to be in the league for quite a while.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Draft surprise: Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik picked in NFL fourth round."
