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Jets Draft Clemson QB Michael Klubnik in Fourth Round

5/10/2026

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Summary

Jets Draft Klubnik

New York Jets drafted Michael Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
He missed the 2025 season with ankle and wrist injuries.
He finished at Clemson with 2,943 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Head coach Aaron Glenn praised his attitude, placed him behind starter Geno Smith on the depth chart, and said he hopes to earn playing time behind quarterbacks Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe while Wilson visited on April 27.

Summary

Jets Acquire Klubnik

Jets traded up in the fourth round to select quarterback Klubnik with the 110th overall pick.
Klubnik arrives as a two-time ACC champion from Clemson.
He broke Drew Brees’ Westlake passing record in high school and was the nation’s top recruit.
Teammates Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. praised his energy after he led a players-only walk-through in the hotel fitness room.

Summary

Boyd Mentors Klubnik

Tajh Boyd, Clemson’s all-time passing leader and former Jets sixth-round pick, now serves as Clemson’s assistant quarterbacks coach and mentors Klubnik, drawing on his own Jets experience.
Boyd told Newsday that Klubnik leaned on him for counsel during tough times and urged him to keep the approach simple and not overthink.
Klubnik played through a high-ankle sprain and a wrist injury in his senior season, using an elevator to attend meetings because he could not climb stairs.
Despite those injuries, he guided Clemson to a 6-1 stretch and four straight wins, earning a bowl-game berth.
Former Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley called Klubnik “made of the right stuff” and praised his unflappable confidence in difficult situations.
Riley noted Klubnik’s perseverance, saying he kept showing up even when hurt, which convinced Boyd he was ready for the NFL.

Summary

Klubnik Goes Viral

A 34-second slow-motion video of Klubnik running onto the field for rookie minicamp went viral, earning 1.2 million impressions.
Klubnik signed a four-year rookie contract valued at about $5.5 million.
Teammate Breece Hall and meme accounts posted humorous reactions, sparking fan enthusiasm for the rookie quarterback.
Fans noted that his No. 10 jersey echoes former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, adding to his popularity.

History

Historical Context

After the Jets rose from a 1-15 season in 1996 to a 12-4, division-winning campaign in 1998—anchored by rookie Vinny Testaverde’s 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions—the franchise has repeatedly turned to unproven quarterbacks. Testaverde’s early resilience set a pattern echoed in the 2026 selection of Michael Klubnik, continuing New York’s developmental-QB strategy.

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Jets Draft Klubnik

New York Jets drafted Michael Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
He missed the 2025 season with ankle and wrist injuries.
He finished at Clemson with 2,943 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Head coach Aaron Glenn praised his attitude, placed him behind starter Geno Smith on the depth chart, and said he hopes to earn playing time behind quarterbacks Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe while Wilson visited on April 27.

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