At least for now, the New York Jets are rolling into the 2026 season with Geno Smith set as the starter. But the bigger question hanging over the quarterback room is the one that always matters most: who becomes the long-term answer?
That’s where Cade Klubnik comes in.
The Jets took Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and early in training camp, offensive coordinator Frank Reich is already seeing enough to believe the rookie belongs in the conversation for the future. Speaking to SNY, Reich made it clear that Klubnik has put in a solid early showing.
“Cade has been good. I really like how he has come back mentally and I feel like he has taken a good step,” Reich said.
“It's a lot now, we're at the point now where pretty much everything is in. He shows the aptitude to pick it all up.
The aptitude for big plays. Just continue to weather some storms.”
Reich didn’t stop there. He also reminded that the learning curve for a young quarterback can get rough in a hurry.
Frank Reich has been impressed with Cade Klubnik in camp:
— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 7, 2026
"I really like how he's come back mentally, he's taken a good step" pic.twitter.com/gZDEQwHH9H
“There will be storms, you're a rookie quarterback, you're going to take your lumps,” he continued. “But I'm happy with the entire quarterback room, all the guys competing for the No. 2 spot are doing a good job.”
That backup competition matters, too. Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are both in the mix behind Klubnik, and Cook has a little extra familiarity after starting four games for the Jets in 2025. Still, New York clearly has a stronger investment in the rookie than in the other two options.
Nothing is being handed to Klubnik. His work in camp and the preseason will be watched closely, and every rep will count.
As for whether he’s part of the Jets’ starting quarterback picture in 2027, that remains an open question. For now, though, Reich’s early confidence gives Klubnik a meaningful boost as he keeps pushing forward.
In Other News...
Jets Fans Can Finally Exhale About Kenyon Sadiq's Camp Setback
Kenyon Sadiqs first training camp with the Jets has hit a brief detour, with the rookie tight end working his way back from hernia surgery. New York is handling the situation cautiously, and head coach Aaron Glenn has made it clear the team is not treating it as a long-term concern for one of the clubs most important young additions.
Sadiq, the Jets 16th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is being monitored as he moves through his recovery and toward full health. The missed time will cost him a few practices in camp, but the bigger picture for the Jets remains the same, with Glenn saying he is still expected to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Enter Camp With A Playoff Debate Few Saw Coming
Training camp has opened for a Jets team that spent much of 2025 struggling and spent the offseason trying to reset its direction. The roster has changed in noticeable ways, including trades that sent away key players and the reunion with quarterback Geno Smith, but around the league the reaction has still been cautious, with most analysts keeping expectations well below playoff territory.
Still, the idea of New York as a possible Wild Card team has started to surface in unexpected corners. Kyle Brandt floated the question of how the Jets could get there in 2026, only to have the conversation shut down by his show's producers as too far-fetched, which says plenty about where the franchise is viewed entering camp. For the Jets, the challenge is less about convincing outsiders to believe in a postseason push than proving they are even close enough for the debate to sound plausible. [Read more 🡒]