Make Or Break? Will A Re-energized Frank Reich Pay The Ultimate Price For Selecting Cade Klubnik As Backup QB?

The Jets new OC faces a doom loop if Geno Smith goes down and Klubnik doesn't pan out.

We’ve seen it before: A Jets starting QB goes down from injury or bad play, and an untested backup is forced to come in and lead the team forward.

While it could be a confidence builder for young talent, more often it’s a mistake waiting to happen, as was the case most recently with Zach Wilson who replaced a hobbled Aaron Rodgers.

Based on April 2026 reports, former NFL coach and current Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich pushed for the Jets to draft former Clemson quarterback Klubnik in the 2026 NFL Draft.*

Klubnik was selected by the Jets in the fourth round after a successful career at Clemson, where he went 26-14 as a starter.

It’s a crap shoot for Reich, who is impressed with Klubnik’s athleticism, according to several reports. Once considered a QB guru, Reich has had a succession of failures in the pro ranks recently, so a lot is riding on his ana…