Jets delay – With Geno Smith entrenched as the starter, the Jets are keeping their backup options in flux—adding rookies and depth pieces while waiting to see what fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik can prove during upcoming OTAs.
The Jets have four quarterbacks on the roster, and the biggest question isn’t who starts—it’s who earns the spot behind Geno Smith.
New York added Bailey Zappe after the 2025 season. bringing a quarterback with nine career starts from stints with New England and Cleveland. Brady Cook is also on the roster after starting four games last year as an undrafted rookie. And then there’s the newest piece of the puzzle: fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik. who slid to round four after entering the 2025 college football season viewed as a potential first-round draft pick.
Instead of rushing to fill the depth chart with an established veteran, the Jets are planning around what Klubnik looks like in the upcoming OTAs. The team’s plan, as described by Rich Cimini of ESPN, is to see what Klubnik can do first before possibly adding a more established veteran backup.
Klubnik’s early footing has been encouraging. He looked good at the rookie minicamp, but the Jets know the next step will be harder—practices will include veteran players, and that’s where the speed of the transition and the sharpness of decision-making get tested.
If Klubnik handles that challenge, the Jets could decide he becomes the primary understudy to Smith for 2026. The path the organization is mapping is straightforward: use OTAs and what follows to determine whether Klubnik is ready to be the long-term backup—and, eventually, the starter in New York.
The Jets have also spoken with Russell Wilson. Wilson says he is weighing an offer with the Jets against an opportunity at CBS, and to date he has accepted neither.
New York Jets Geno Smith Cade Klubnik Bailey Zappe Brady Cook Russell Wilson OTAs 2026 quarterback depth chart
So they’re basically stalling because the backup QB isn’t ready? Sounds like chaos.
Wait, Cade Klubnik? I thought he already plays like a vet in college lol. If he looks good in OTAs that means he’s guaranteed the job right? Because Geno’s done or what?
Rich Cimini said they’re gonna see what Klubnik can do first before adding another veteran… so they’re just not committing. That Russell Wilson CBS thing sounds like he wants to be a commentator instead of QB, which is honestly smart. But if they keep Geno as starter then why even care who’s #2, like the whole offense falls apart anyway.
I don’t get why they didn’t just grab a veteran backup right away. Bailey Zappe already sounds like a replacement name from some other team, and Brady Cook too. Also “OTAs” is such a weird term, like it doesn’t even count. If Klubnik can’t do it now then he never will, that’s how it usually goes.