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Cade Klubnik NFL Draft Scouting Report: Clemson QB Has NFL Scouts Buzzing

  • Writer: Brandon Lundberg
    Brandon Lundberg
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

Cade Klubnik enters the 2025 college football season as one of the hottest quarterback prospects in the country, coming off a breakout year that firmly re-established Clemson as a Playoff contender. After throwing for over 3,600 yards and accounting for 43 total touchdowns with just six interceptions, Klubnik showed significant growth in his third season, particularly as a processor and playmaker in high-pressure moments.



At 6’2”, 205 pounds, Klubnik may not have elite size, but he possesses an NFL-caliber arm, plus athleticism, and some of the best pocket navigation in college football. NFL scouts have taken notice, and he’s now firmly in the Round 1 conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft, and he could solidify his status with a big year in 2025.


Cade Klubnik Measurables

  • Height: 6’2”

  • Weight: 205 lbs

  • Class: Senior

  • Hometown: Austin, TX


✅ Strengths

  • Pocket Poise & Navigation – Displays advanced ability to climb, slide, and reset inside the pocket without panicking. Shows real comfort under pressure and consistently keeps his eyes downfield.

  • Quick Release & Mechanics – Klubnik’s release is compact and efficient, allowing him to generate consistent velocity to all areas of the field. Mechanically polished for a college quarterback.

  • Middle-Field Accuracy – He’s at his best attacking the intermediate middle. Throws with touch and confidence on digs, deep crossers, and seam routes—flashes NFL-level timing.

  • Off-Script Playmaker – Thrives when the play breaks down. Can escape pressure, reset platforms, and deliver accurate passes on the move. Mobile enough to extend and convert with his legs.

  • Leadership & Game Experience – 28 career starts and two-time ACC Championship Game MVP. Mature leader with strong command of the offense and locker room.

⚠️ Areas for Improvement

  • Anticipation Timing – Still a “see-it, throw-it” passer. Must speed up his mental clock and trust windows earlier, especially against NFL-level coverage.

  • Inconsistent Ball Placement – Klubnik has stretches where his accuracy dips, particularly when throwing off-platform or under duress. Needs to improve consistency with footwork.

  • Overconfidence in Arm Talent – Occasionally forces throws into tight coverage or bypasses check-downs trying to create a big play. Must develop better risk management in high-leverage situations.


🧠 Ideal NFL Scheme Fit

Klubnik fits best in a modern spread-to-pro hybrid system that emphasizes intermediate timing concepts and allows him to use quick-game rhythm with off-script freedom.


🧩 NFL Comparison

  • Ceiling: Tony Romo – Mobile, creative, instinctive passer with clutch playmaking ability and feel for pressure.

  • Floor: Sam Howell – Talented and tough but inconsistent with anticipation and prone to occasional chaos under pressure.

  • Stylistic Comp: Bo Nix – Athletic, experienced college QB with strong mechanics and leadership intangibles who thrives when the play breaks down.


📈 2026 NFL Draft Outlook

Cade Klubnik currently grades as a Day 2 NFL Draft Prospect on the Football Scout 365 scale and is trending toward day one status in the 2026 NFL Draft. His 2024 breakout season showcased significant year-over-year improvement, especially in how he operated under pressure and took command of Clemson’s offense.


If Klubnik continues to evolve as an anticipatory thrower and sharpens his decision-making in 2025, he won’t just push Clemson back into the College Football Playoff—he’ll elevate himself into the QB1 conversation in what looks to be a deep and talented quarterback class.

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