From mock drafts to draft grades, the 2025 draft cycle was amazing here at Fantasy Trading Room! Now, it's time to look forward to the 2026 NFL Draft!
The 2026 NFL Draft is poised to be an excellent class for quarterbacks, with names like Fernando Mendoza, LaNorris Sellers, and Garrett Nussmeier expected to be at the top. Someone that, early on, I would bet on to claim the prized QB1 status is Clemson Tigers' signal caller Cade Klubnik. In this article, we'll dive into who Klubnik is as a player and why he has a shot at being the first quarterback off the board next April.
Background
Recruiting profile
Klubnik was a 5 star recruit in the 2022 signing class out of Westlake High School, a powerhouse in Austin, TX. According to 247Sports’s Composite Rankings, he was the number 6 overall recruit in the nation, the number 1 recruit in the state of Texas, and the number 1 quarterback in the country. Klubnik is also listed at 6'2" and 210 pounds according to Clemson’s Football Roster Page.
Klubnik arrived on campus as the backup to Clemson starter D.J. Uiagalelei. However, after a multitude of struggles from Uiagalelei throughout the 2022 season, Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney handed the reins over to the young freshman off the bench early in the Tigers' ACC Championship game against North Carolina. Klubnik would shine, completing 20 of his 24 passing attempts for 279 passing yards and a score, while tacking on 30 yards rushing.
Statistical profile
In Klubnik’s time at Clemson, he has started 28 games (with a record of 19-9), completed 63.4% of his passes for 7,180 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. He has also added 784 yards on the ground and another 13 touchdowns. 2024 was easily Klubnik's best season so far, completing 63.4% of his passes for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions along with 463 rushing yards and an additional 7 scores.
In the history of Clemson Football, Klubnik ranks fourth in passing touchdowns, fourth in passing yards, fourth in passing attempts, fifth in completions, fifth in career touchdowns, and sixth in total offense. He has also won two ACC Championship Game MVPs.
Prospect Profile
Now, let's discuss who Klubnik is as a prospect, mainly touching on his strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
Klubnik is a really good athlete and a creative runner with good top-end speed. He also has well above average acceleration and change of direction for a quarterback. I don't think anyone sets up their blockers on quarterback draw plays better than Klubnik, which was never more apparent than his game-winning 50-yard touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2024.
He also shows really nice touch on his passes, especially when throwing up the seam and along the boundary. Klubnik's feel for throwing the football is apparent, showcasing different velocities and arcs for a variety of different throws.
Perhaps my favorite part of Klubnik's game is that he gives his receivers a chance to make a play. So many times, the majority of them being on fades to the end zone, quarterbacks will either throw it too far (either through the back of the end zone or beyond either side of the end zone). Klubnik's ability to put touch on those throws specifically is rather refreshing to see from a college quarterback.
Klubnik is really accurate, especially on touch throws along the sideline. He is also very accurate in the intermediate portion of the field in the face of pressure and shows flashes of great accuracy on the move.
While being accurate in the face of pressure, Klubnik also manages pressure well in all phases, which creates some open windows for him within the pocket to not have to deal with pressure head-on. There were a few times, especially in Clemson's playoff game against the Texas Longhorns, when he was able to sidestep the rush and create something out of structure.
Klubnik's footwork is very clean. Not necessarily perfect, like you may see from someone like Joe Burrow, but very efficient and effective.
He has the arm to make every throw in the book. His arm isn't elite, but Klubnik can absolutely hit every throw on the field, whether that's a deep post, an out route from the far hash, or any other route that requires a strong arm. He consistently generates strong throws on the run as well, which highlights his ability to generate velocity off platform.
Part of what gives Klubnik the ability to make every throw on the field is his quick release. While it's not as quick as Aaron Rodgers, nothing about his throwing motion is elongated or exaggerated. It's quick, compact, and efficient.
Klubnik works through his progressions efficiently. Each individual read has a purpose, and he understands that to a high degree.
He is as tough as nails. Klubnik is absolutely willing to stand in the pocket and take a shot for the betterment of the play and the team. He also doesn't shy away from contact when running the football.
Klubnik is a fiery competitor and a leader, always willing to lay his body on the line for a win. While Clemson doesn't officially name the same players as a captain each week, Klubnik has been one for many of their games. There is zero doubt who the heartbeat of that Clemson team is.
Weaknesses
While Klubnik is a good processor, there are times when he predetermines where he's going with the football. Sometimes, this is the correct read if the quarterback reads the leverage and alignment of defenders pre-snap and recognizes that his receiver has an advantage. However, there were a few times on his tape when he incorrectly predetermined his read.
We mentioned Klubnik's accuracy within his strengths, but when he does miss, he tends to miss high. The main area I saw this issue pop up was over the middle of the field in the intermediate window of the field (10-20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage). With how much cover 2 and cover 4 are run in the NFL these days, there will almost always be safeties lurking over the middle of the field in that intermediate window, so missing high could be very costly.
This is more nitpicking than anything, but there are times when Klubnik seems to drift in the pocket. This rarely leads to a negative play, but there are times when that can make a throw more difficult than it needs to be.
Final Thoughts
In what is supposed to be a rockstar quarterback class, Klubnik absolutely has what it takes to be the top guy. His combination of an above-average arm, athleticism, and plus accuracy gives him all the tools to be 2026's QB1.
Klubnik is losing a couple of weapons in tight end Jake Briningstool and running back Phil Mafah to the NFL, but Clemson is returning wide receivers Antonio Williams, T.J. Moore, Bryant Wesco Jr., and Cole Turner, all of whom totaled 167 receptions for 2,492 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2024. It's very early, and rankings can always change, but for now, I'm planting my QB1 flag for Clemson's captain.