ESPN analyst compares Jets rookie Cade Klubnik to Super Bowl quarterback

The New York Jets took a flier on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik when they selected him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

During a recent chat with Rich Cimini of ESPN, draft analyst Matt Miller compared Klubnik to San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy. 

Could Cade Klubnik follow in the footsteps of Brock Purdy?

"There is a track record of taking highly experienced college players and letting them play," Miller explained. "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."

Randy Lange of the Jets' website noted that Klubnik made 40 starts for Clemson. Klubnik is now expected to spend at least one season developing as a backup for Jets starter Geno Smith. Additionally, the Jets aren't hiding that they want to add a proven backup to the roster this spring. 

Meanwhile, the 49ers had no intention of playing Purdy as a rookie after they made him the final selection of the 2022 draft. However, injuries to other options forced Purdy into the lineup in December of that year. Since then, he has played in a pair of conference title games and in a Super Bowl. 

Purdy signed a five-year, $265M contract extension that included $181M in guarantees and a no-trade clause last offseason. 

Why Cade Klubnik slid in the 2026 NFL Draft

Klubnik's slide during the draft sparked conversations during and after the player-selection process. In December 2024, some viewed him as a sure-thing first-round talent.  

"It was never that he was Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence -- he was never that type of prospect -- but you were projecting what we saw against Texas in the CFP was actually who he was going to be," Miller added about Klubnik. "But Clemson regressed across the board. Every player except (offensive tackle) Blake Miller (first round, Detroit Lions) saw their stock drop."

Those running the Jets may now hope that Klubnik becomes one of the top steals of his draft class. That said, he probably shouldn't take a regular-season snap anytime soon and should instead learn about life in the NFL while serving as an out-of-sight backup.