Why Matt Miller criticized his ‘own profession’ over early Cade Klubnik draft hype

The New York Jets made some solid moves during the 2026 NFL Draft. New York even added another piece to their quarterback room in Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. One draft analyst explained how Clemson’s disappointing 2025 season was a problem for many prospects during the draft.

ESPN’s Matt Miller criticized his own profession when recalling early 2026 mock drafts that hyped up Klubnik during the 2025 offseason.

“To be critical of my own profession, [the early mocks] are driven so much on hype, and Klubnik had just come off that College Football Playoff against Texas,” Miller said by phone, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “They lost, but he put the team on his back. You thought, ‘Oh my gosh!’ You expected that last season, but instead what we got was a decline from him.”

Miller added that Klubnik was never viewed as a Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence. Remember, both were consensus first overall picks. But that victory over Texas had spirits incredibly high headed into the 2025 season.

Klubnik threw for 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024, but that fell to just 2,943 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025. Clemson struggled to a 7-6 record because of Klubnik’s underwhelming performances.

Still, there’s a chance that Klubnik could put everything together in the NFL. Perhaps Klubnik could follow the Brock Purdy path to becoming a starting quarterback.

“There is a track record of taking highly experienced college players and letting them play,” Miller said. “You hate to make the Purdy comparison because it’s so overused at this point, but if there’s going to be a Purdy in this year’s class, it’s going to be Klubnik because of the experience, the athletic ability, the arm and the situation.”

If Klubnik wants to make his mark with the Jets, he’ll have to earn it. Geno Smith and Brady Cook are already ahead of him on the depth chart.

The post Why Matt Miller criticized his ‘own profession’ over early Cade Klubnik draft hype appeared first on ClutchPoints.