Cade Klubnick signals end of New York Jets quarterback battle but real winner is a year away

Preseason in New York and quarterback storylines are never far away – even if they are only delaying the inevitable.

Geno Smith took his first meaningful game time snaps in a 17-0 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night, while the fascination around Cade Klubnik continues.

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Perhaps the real story is how the Jets position themselves for the race to the top of a 2027 draft class that has coaches and scouts at fever pitch.

For now, Smith is QB1 after returning to MetLife Stadium on a one-year deal in free agency and behind him there is race to be the backup.

Smith’s 12-month contract seems to suggest that the Jets are very much looking down the pike, but fourth round gamble Klubnik has raised a few eyebrows.

Selected with the 110th pick following a four-year, 40 start career with Clemson, there have even been some calls that the 22-year could have a long term future for Gang Green, maybe even this season.

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For a franchise starved of quarterback hope, it might be far fetched to hope Klubnik could be the answer – and even the man himself was realistic with his thoughts after Smith’s return

“It was awesome, we are all fired up for him but that’s Geno,” he told reporters after the game on Friday.

“He is going to have a heck of a year.”

Klubnik’s admission seems to suggest he knows he likely have to settle for a spot behind Smith and a battle with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe as the back up

After impressing with a surprise outing as QB1 in the Jets preseason opener, he had another chance on Friday night and it was significant that he got a two-minute drill under his belt.

“It was great and I am happy that I got it,” he added after completing 10 of 14 passes for 75 yards, to go with two sacks and no points.

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“We do it all the time in practise and it’s different in a game but that’s the preparation that we have had.

“For several weeks now, it has prepared us for that and Frank [Reich, offensive coordinator] did a great job calling it and it was executed mostly pretty well except for the two sacks.”

Who could the Jets draft in 2027?

With three picks in the first round, the Jets hold plenty of cards for the 2027 NFL Draft class.

Headlined by Arch Manning, and with Dante Moore another name many feel has all the tools to translate to the NFL, there is a feeling the whole class could threaten the record number taken on Day 1.

In 2024 and in 1983, six signal callers were picked in the first round.

Two years ago Caleb Williams went to Chicago with the first overall selection and was followed by Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Drake Maye (New England Patriots) in the top three.

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Michael Penix Jr (Atlanta Falcons), J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) and Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) followed to emulate the legendary class of 1983 which featured Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.

As well as Manning and Moore, CJ Carr and Drew Mestermaker are among the names already forecast to be first round picks.

Julian Sayin. Trinidad Chambliss and LaNorris Sellers have the potential to surge into contention for the opening day in Washington.

With the Jets unexpected to be in the mix for the playoffs, they are anticipated to have a high pick in the draft.

That selection will go alongside the first round picks of Dallas and Indianapolis following trades which took Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys and Sauce Gardner to the Colts.

It give the Jets scope to move around the board next April, and the question marks under center now will likely go on for a while yet.