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Jets Trade Up, Draft QB Cade Klubnik at 110

4/26/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Jets Draft Klubnik

Jets traded picks 128 and 140 to the Bengals for pick 110, then drafted QB Cade Klubnik.
Klubnik, 22, threw for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in his final college season.
He was the fifth quarterback taken, ranked around 202nd on Dane Brugler’s board, joining starter Geno Smith.
The trade was called a reach for a developmental player, leaving the Jets without a named veteran backup.

Summary

Klubnik Signs Jets

Clemson quarterback Michael Klubnik signed a four-year contract with the New York Jets worth $5.5 million.
He left Clemson as the program’s all-time leader in pass completions and third in career passing yards.
Analysts said the modest total reflects his status as a developmental prospect despite his college accolades.
Clemson announced redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina as the next starting quarterback after Klubnik’s departure.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, Testaverde guided the Jets to an AFC East title, but a ruptured Achilles in the 1999 opener forced the team to rotate three quarterbacks and sparked owner Leon Hess’s estate sale to Woody Johnson. The franchise’s ensuing quarterback instability has shaped its repeated attempts to find a lasting starter, echoing today’s draft strategy.

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Jets Draft Klubnik

Jets traded picks 128 and 140 to the Bengals for pick 110, then drafted QB Cade Klubnik.
Klubnik, 22, threw for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in his final college season.
He was the fifth quarterback taken, ranked around 202nd on Dane Brugler’s board, joining starter Geno Smith.
The trade was called a reach for a developmental player, leaving the Jets without a named veteran backup.

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