2026 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper Jr. reveals where Cade Klubnik stands among QB prospects

After an up-and-down senior season at Clemson, Cade Klubnik is hoping to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft next week. He presents an interesting case for teams, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he could make a case for the third quarterback to come off the board.

The wide expectation is that Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson will be the first two quarterbacks selected, though there are questions about who will be QB3. Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck are in that discussion, along with Drew Allar.

Kiper said Klubnik could also be in that mix, given his experience and athleticism, but he likely has a fourth or fifth-round grade. That’s why he sees a wide range for the former Clemson QB in the middle rounds.

“He’s right there in that mix to be anywhere between – he could be fourth quarterback taken, seventh quarterback taken,” Kiper said on a conference call with reporters. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility he could be the third after, obviously, Mendoza goes one and Simpson goes. Then, the third’s up for grabs between Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier and Drew Allar. You could throw Klubnik into that, Cole Payton, Taylen Green. They’re all close. They’re close enough that it wouldn’t surprise me if any one of those guys went third.

“But Klubnik is probably going to be in that, I’d say, early Day 3 area in that fourth, fifth-round area. I love his athletic ability. He doesn’t have the wow-you-over talent from an arm standpoint. And this year, things just didn’t come together … probably the offense or defense there with some of the players kind of not performing to the level expected.”

Mel Kiper Jr.: Cade Klubnik has ‘played a lot of football’

Cade Klubnik threw for 2,943 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 2025, but turned in his best numbers in 2024 while leading Clemson to the College Football Playoff. He threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns that season before choosing to run it back with the Tigers.

That experience is important as Klubnik prepares to head to the next level, according to Kiper. But the athleticism is also a key part of the evaluation when putting Klubnik up against the other quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

“Klubnik, I love the energy he brings,” Kiper said. “He throws a pretty accurate ball. To me, he’s a guy – like I said, back in August we were talking about first round, and now you’re talking about fourth or fifth round. So I think he’s going to go. I think he’s too athletic. He’s played a lot of football. He’s got some good tape on him.

“I think he’ll probably, if he had to say, what quarterback number would he be off the board? I’d say probably fifth to sixth quarterback taken, which all these guys are going to be in that same general area of the third to fifth round.”