Mel Kiper Jr. Sees Cade Klubnik as Mid-Round QB Prospect

The ESPN analyst believes the former Clemson quarterback could be the third or fourth QB selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:37pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a quarterback in the midst of a passing play, with the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.Cade Klubnik's uneven senior season has NFL scouts questioning where the athletic QB will be selected in the 2026 draft.Clemson Today

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. believes former Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik could be selected anywhere from the third to sixth quarterback off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kiper praised Klubnik's athleticism and experience, but noted concerns about his arm strength and an up-and-down senior season. The wide expectation is that Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson will be the first two QBs taken, with Klubnik potentially in the mix with other prospects like Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, and Drew Allar to be the third quarterback selected.

Why it matters

The 2026 NFL Draft class is seen as a relatively weak one for quarterbacks, so Klubnik's draft position could have a significant impact on where he lands and his long-term NFL prospects. As one of the more experienced and athletic QBs in the class, a strong showing in pre-draft workouts and interviews could help Klubnik solidify his standing as a mid-round selection.

The details

Kiper believes Klubnik's draft position will likely fall somewhere in the fourth or fifth round, citing concerns about his arm strength and an up-and-down senior season at Clemson. However, Kiper praised Klubnik's athleticism, accuracy, and experience, noting that he could be in the mix to be the third quarterback selected after Mendoza and Simpson.

  • Klubnik threw for 2,943 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 2025.
  • In 2024, Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading Clemson to the College Football Playoff.

The players

Cade Klubnik

A former quarterback at Clemson University who is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mel Kiper Jr.

A prominent NFL draft analyst for ESPN who has evaluated Klubnik's draft prospects.

Fernando Mendoza

A quarterback prospect expected to be one of the first two QBs selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Ty Simpson

A quarterback prospect expected to be one of the first two QBs selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“He's right there in that mix to be anywhere between – he could be fourth quarterback taken, seventh quarterback taken. 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.”

— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Analyst

“Klubnik, I love the energy he brings. 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.”

— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place next week, where Klubnik and the other quarterback prospects will learn their professional fates.

The takeaway

Cade Klubnik's draft stock has fallen from potential first-round pick to likely mid-round selection, but his athleticism, experience, and accuracy could still make him an intriguing option for NFL teams looking to develop a quarterback in the middle rounds of the 2026 draft.