He finally did it. On January 14, 2026, Cade Klubnik officially declared for the NFL Draft, ending one of the most polarizing careers in the history of Clemson football. You probably remember the hype. Five-star recruit. Number one quarterback in the nation. The guy who was supposed to be Trevor Lawrence 2.0.
Life is rarely that simple.
Klubnik leaves Death Valley as a statistical giant but a draft enigma. He owns the school records for career pass completions (916) and attempts (1,432). He’s one of only four Clemson QBs to cross the 11,000-yard mark in total offense. But if you talk to NFL scouts, the conversation isn't about the records. It's about whether his game actually translates to Sunday.
📖 Related: Athletic Club vs Real Madrid: Why This Is Still Spanish Football’s Most Honest Rivalry
The Cade Klubnik NFL Draft Dilemma: High Floor or Low Ceiling?
Drafting a quarterback is basically an exercise in risk management. With Klubnik, you know exactly what you’re getting, but you might not love the limitations. Honestly, he’s one of the most experienced prospects in this class with 40 starts under his belt. That matters.
NFL scouts see a guy who is 6'2" and 210 pounds—decent size, though they'd love another ten pounds of muscle. His 2025 season was... fine. He threw for 2,943 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Those aren't "Number 1 overall pick" numbers, especially compared to his 36-touchdown explosion in 2024. But he showed he can take care of the ball.
Why scouts are torn
- The "Good but not Great" Problem: He doesn't have the cannon arm of a Josh Allen or the twitchy, video-game running ability of a Lamar Jackson.
- Processing Speed: In 2024, he was a machine. In 2025, he looked a bit more hesitant. Scouts noticed him turning down open deep shots for "safe" check-downs.
- Straight-line Speed: He’s fast. Like, 21 MPH fast. But he’s not shifty. If you ask him to make someone miss in a phone booth, he’s probably going down.
Breaking Down the 2025 Tape
If you're looking for the "why" behind his fluctuating draft stock, you have to look at the LSU and South Carolina games from this past fall. Against top-tier competition, Klubnik often looked like a high-end game manager rather than a game-wrecker.
He finished his senior year with a 65.6% completion rate. That’s solid. It shows he’s accurate in the short-to-intermediate game. But the "big-time throws"—those 20+ yard ropes that NFL GMs drool over—were less frequent in 2025 than they were the year before. Some of that might be on the Clemson offense being a bit of a "tire fire" at times, as some Reddit scouts have bluntly put it, but some of it is on Cade.
He still struggles with interior pressure. When the pocket collapses from the middle, his footwork gets frantic. His steps stop lining up with his eyes. That’s when the "hero ball" interceptions happen.
Where Will He Actually Go?
Early mock drafts for the 2026 cycle are all over the place. ESPN’s Field Yates still has him as a Top-5 quarterback in the class. That’s the "pedigree" factor. People remember the 2024 season where he tied Trevor Lawrence’s single-season touchdown mark.
However, more cynical mock drafts, like a recent one from A to Z Sports, have him sliding into the 4th round. That's a massive gap.
The most likely reality? He’s a Day 2 pick. Somewhere in the late second or early third round. A team like the Rams, who need a successor to Matthew Stafford, or the Jets, could be perfect. He’s the kind of guy who can sit for a year, clean up his deep-ball mechanics, and eventually become a reliable, Kirk Cousins-style starter. He’s safe. He’s smart. He’s tough as nails.
What Most People Get Wrong About Klubnik
There’s this narrative that he "regressed" in 2025. It's more complicated. His touchdown numbers dropped because Clemson leaned more on the run in the red zone, and his receiving corps didn't exactly do him many favors.
He didn't get worse; he just didn't take that "Joe Burrow leap" everyone expected. He’s a "B" student in almost every category.
- Arm Strength: B
- Accuracy: B+
- Mobility: B+
- Football IQ: A-
In a draft class that lacks a "generational" talent at QB, being a "B" student with 40 starts might actually make him more attractive than a high-upside project who only started for one year.
Actionable Insights for Draft Fans
If you're tracking the Cade Klubnik NFL draft saga, here is what you need to watch over the next few months:
- The Senior Bowl (if he attends): This is massive. If he can show he can process a new playbook in three days and zip the ball in tight windows against elite corners, his stock will jump back into the late first round.
- The Combine 40-Yard Dash: Everyone knows he has "football speed," but a sub-4.6 time would prove he’s a legitimate dual-threat in the eyes of NFL coordinators.
- The Medicals: He’s taken a lot of hits at Clemson. Teams will want to make sure those 369 career rushing attempts haven't left any lingering issues.
Keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts or the New Orleans Saints. Both teams are in that "weird middle ground" where they might not want to trade the farm for a top-three pick but desperately need a young, high-floor signal-caller to compete. Cade fits that "win-sooner-than-later" mold perfectly.
📖 Related: Turki Alalshikh: What Most People Get Wrong About the World's Most Powerful Powerbroker
The Clemson era is over. The "Cade Klubnik" brand is now headed to the league, and while he might not be the savior he was marketed as in high school, he’s a hell of a lot better than the skeptics think.
Next Steps for You: You can track his official measurements and workout results during the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. I can help you compare his final college stats against other top 2026 QB prospects like Mendoza or Dante Moore if you want to see how he stacks up.